Parents, coaches, and administrators are committed to creating a safe environment for student-athletes to play and Whitmer has not provided any science or data that supports the decision to continue the sports shutdown.
January 25, 2021
Parents And School Officials Call On Whitmer To Let Kids Play Or Show Data On Decision To Shutdown Sports
Upon returning to Michigan from Washington D.C. for President Biden’s Inauguration celebration, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that winter high school sports would continue to be delayed at least through Feb. 21. Fall sports were allowed to finish this past weekend and the move to shut down winter sports was signed by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services director Robert Gordon just hours before his abrupt resignation.
No “Science” or “Data” Provided
According to MLive, the MHSAA executive director noted that Whitmer and MDHHS had not provided any metrics or data for the decision – a criticism that has been repeated by many affected by Whitmer’s orders during the pandemic.
“We have been given no metrics, no data while we’ve been under this current pause. We have gotten no data in terms of what has to change in order for activity to begin.”
Crain’s Detroit Business reports that the superintendent of Detroit Public Schools Community District who is normally an ally of the governor is also asking for the metrics and data to be shared on the most recent shutdown order.
“Vitti said the new ban on contact sports through Feb. 21 that the Whitmer administration announced Friday morning “makes no sense” given that they allowed high school football championships to be played that night inside Ford Field in Detroit.”
“Whitmer, who will deliver her third State of the State address Wednesday, needs to more clearly define the COVID-19 data benchmarks for reopening schools and resuming high school sports “or she’s going to lose support,” Vitti said.”
Athletes Leaving To Play In Open States
The states surrounding Michigan are all playing sports and now prep schools from across the country are recruiting Michigan’s top athletes to play in places that are open. A high school basketball coach from Detroit told the Detroit News he fears a player exodus from the state.
“That’s the difficulty, trying to come up with alternatives to allow them to play and provide those opportunities that they all want so badly and need so badly. A lot of these kids are looking at this as an opportunity to pay for college.”
“I completely understand why they are looking for these opportunities. I don’t understand the decision process, why the decision was made to push the season back even further. I’m extremely disappointed and quite honestly I’m sitting here contemplating what can we do to provide the opportunities for these young men so they get in front of college coaches.
It’s time for Gov. Whitmer to let the kids play. Parents, coaches, and administrators are committed to creating a safe environment for student-athletes to play and Whitmer has not provided any science or data that supports the decision to continue the sports shutdown. – Tori Sachs, executive director of Michigan Rising Action