EDWARDSVILLE — As the debate continues on whether fall sports should go on as scheduled, coaches and administrators at Edwardsville High School, Father McGivney High School and Metro-East Lutheran High School have varying opinions.
Over the last week, the Edwardsville Intelligencer has conducted a survey, asking for opinions about the return to sports for each season and if it would be possible with the current guidelines of place, including student-athletes wearing a mask during competitions and practices unless they are outside and able to maintain a social distance of at least six feet.
In total, 33 people answered the survey, including 22 from EHS, eight from FMCHS and two from MELHS. The survey was sent out Sunday evening to all schools at the same time.
Asked if they felt safe returning to sports with the current guidelines, 78.1 percent (25) said “yes” with the remaining 21.9 percent (7) as “no” votes.
While IHSA will meet next week to — hopefully — determine a plan for moving forward, athletic directors around the state, including Roxana’s Mark Briggs, have formulated their own proposals to act as discussion starters. There are proposals to switch fall and spring sports.
Asked if they should make the switch, 88.5 percent (23) voted in favor of keep fall sports in the fall with 11.5 percent (3) saying to make the switch.
All agreed that winter sports should remain in the winter.
Another popular question regarded masks being worn.
For fall sports — football, boys soccer, girls volleyball, girls tennis, boys and girls golf and boys and girls cross country — there were 73.1 percent (19) of the responses saying no and 26.9 percent (7) saying yes.
For winter, there were 14 responses and 78.6 percent (11) said no masks and 21.4 percent (3) said there should be masks. Winter sports include wrestling, boys and girls basketball and boys and girls bowling.
For spring sports — baseball, softball, boys tennis, boys volleyball and boys and girls track — there were 80 percent (12) of the responses saying no mask and 20 percent (three) saying yes to a mask.
Currently, guidelines call for gatherings to be 50 or less, which does include spectators at events for IHSA. Survey takers were asked to answer for the season their sports is played — and that includes assistants for multiple sports or head coaches who also work as assistants for other sports.
There were 19 votes in favor of having fans in the fall with seven not in favor. Of those in favor, 34.6 percent said 1-50, 19.2 percent said 51-100 and 19.2 percent said yes with no restrictions.
There were 11 votes in favor of having fans in the winter with three not in favor. Of those in favor, 28.6 percent said 1-50, 35.7 percent said 51-100 and 14.3 percent said yes with no restrictions.
There were 11 votes in favor of having fans in the spring with four not in favor. Of those in favor, 33.3 percent said 1-50, 33.3 percent said 51-100 and 6.7 percent said yes with no restrictions.
Field hockey and ice hockey were not included because they are not sanctioned by the IHSA.
