COVID-19 metrics in Michigan
continue to fall dramatically

 Gov. Whitmer said in early January that the state would “seriously consider” lifting protocols sooner than the then Jan. 15 end date, if progress controlling the pandemic was sustained.

   Michigan has seen dramatic reductions in COVID-19 cases since the pause was implemented. The seven-day average of COVID-19 cases in the state peaked at 7,270 on Nov. 21. It was 3,239 on Dec. 28, and fell to 1,977 on Jan. 20 and continues to fall (1,422 on Feb. 2). Further, Michigan now has more people at least partially vaccinated against COVID-19 than the number of diagnosed cases since last March.

   Despite the progress in combating the virus, the restrictions on contact sports have not been lifted, yet indoor dining at restaurants, gyms, bowling alleys, and casinos have been allowed to reopen Feb. 1.

   Contact sports have also been restarted in all surrounding states with no major problems.

 At a press conference on Jan. 25, Gov. Whitmer said health officials need to monitor COVID-19 metrics before taking additional steps to lift restrictions on those high school sports.

   The delay has caused growing frustration.

   Parents, coaches and players have called on the governor to allow contact sports to resume only to be met with no additional information from the state.

   Asked about a date when the sports could resume their competitions, Gov. Whitmer cited a growing number of COVID-19 variant cases in Michigan. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, the state's chief medical executive, said there are now 17 cases across Washtenaw and Wayne counties, and the variant is more contagious.

   "Our job is to try to curtail the spread of this new variant in Michigan," Whitmer said on Jan. 25. "We've got to not let our guard down. We've re-engaged restaurants to a certain extent. That will increase the amount of people who are out and about. And I think it's important that we stay very

focused on where the numbers are before we take additional steps."

Administrators, grassroots group, associations make pleas to Gov. Whitmer

   It would be safe to say that the MHSAA and most in the high school sports community in the state completely disagree with that statement from the MDHHS.

   Nikolai Vitti, superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District, called on Gov. Whitmer to explain the ban on contact high school sports.

   Vitti wrote to Gov. Whitmer on Jan. 25 to immediately resume those sports.

   "To be direct, winter 'contact' sports need to start," Vitti said in a letter he released publicly. "Here in Detroit, despite continuing and legitimate fears about COVID within the community, our 31 female and male high school coaches want to play basketball."

   Vitti has long advocated allowing sports to continue amid the pandemic. He noted in his letter that he's "a supporter and critical colleague, not an adversary" of  Gov. Whitmer. Still, he voiced frustration that he said is shared by many who want school sports to resume.

   "I have grown frustrated with the lack of communication and clarity regarding when the start of winter 'contact' sports will be, why it has not started and what needs to occur for it to start," Vitti wrote.

   "Our families have analyzed the risk of playing and they want to play," Vitti said. "As you know, this is the same sentiment across the state among thousands of players, coaches, and families for not only basketball, but

Let Them Play, parents ask court for injuction on MDHSS pause of contact sports

  The letter from Ruddell spelled out the group’s case for reinstating all high school sports. The letter offered a six-part argument with the headings “Data and science supports resumption of youth sports,” “Experience from other states confirms safety of youth sports,” “Team sports are part of a student-athlete’s education,” “Education achievement is linked to athletic opportunities,” “Racial and economic inequities are growing,” and “Economic and education pathways are closing.”

   Despite the pleas in the letter, the MDHSS did not lift the current ban on winter contact sports.

   Finally, Ruddell, on behalf of Let Them Play, filed paperwork with the Michigan Court of Claims on Feb. 2 against Hertel, claiming the MDHHS has provided "no evidence" citing that high school athletes are at an increased risk for contracting COVID-19.

   The plaintiffs asked the court to intervene on the health department's decision to allow nothing more than what amounts to individual drill work for these sports.

   The suit is a step the coalition "would have preferred not to take," said  Ruddell.  "Unforunately, there is no other place for citizens to appeal a decision that restricts the parents’ and the student-athletes’ ability to pursue a key component of their public education,” he said. “The ban on athletic practice and competitions has restricted the ability of these and many other student-athletes from achieving their career pathway – competing, practicing and potentially gaining a college scholarship.”

   Other plaintiffs in the lawsuit include the Michigan Amateur Youth Hockey League and the parents of five high school athletes.

   The lawsuit alleges the state’s COVID-19 restrictions are unconstitutional because they deny students equal protection under the law, due process and the right to free assembly, among other things.

   The state order "arbitrarily and irrationally singles out and deprives" high school athletes of "their rights and freedoms to associate with other students and engage in athletic competitions," attorneys wrote. The state

 is treating older collegiate and professional athletes differently from younger high school athletes "without any rational basis for the disparate treatment.”

   A  spokesperson for Gov. Whitmer declined comment on the new legal action, saying that the administration “does not make decisions based on lawsuits, but on data and the ongoing advice of public health experts.”

    Let Them Play had another rally at the Capitol on Jan. 30 with a large turnout of athletes, coaches and parents.

The MHSAA adapts its sports schedule
to deal with continued delay

   The representative council of the MHSAA approved an adjusted regular-season calendar for winter sports way back on Dec. 23, anticipating the MDHSS would lift its ban on contact sports in early January.

    Due to the continued restrictions, only competitions in skiing, gymnastics and bowling have begun. The scheduled start dates for competition in boys and girls basketball, boys hockey, boys swimming and diving, competitive cheer, and wrestling have now long passed.

   That schedule will now have to be revamped yet again once again when the MDHSS finally allows contact sports to be played.

   “We are unable to provide specific plans yet as we are still evaluating the best options for delivering a memorable experience for 60,000 athletes involved in winter contact sports. We will continue asking questions and advocating for all of our schools and athletes as we work toward building our next plans for seasons in basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling. We will be ready with specific timelines as soon as MDHHS clears contact sports to begin full activity,” said Mark Uyl, executive director of the MHSAA.

   “We have said from the start of the 2020-21 school year that we would do everything possible to have three seasons, and play all three to completion. Our strong advocacy for all sports and seasons – and especially winter sports – continues every day.”

   Most of the winter sports championships were set to conclude in late March. The current situation will push those dates into April or beyond and dramatically shorten the regular seasons. This would push back the start of spring sports and could see spring championships concluded after the school year ends.