With COVID-19 protocols, Richland schools’ sports teams can hit field for first time
It’s been more than two months since Marlin Taylor was named Lower Richland High School football coach.
But because of the coronavirus pandemic, Taylor hasn’t been able to see his team together on the football field. That changes next week as Lower Richland and other Richland 1 schools, along with Richland 2, can begin summer workouts starting Monday.
“Probably will be like Christmas,” said Taylor, who was offensive line coach at state champion Dutch Fork. “It will be a great chance to see them all together. We have to get them acclimated to the heat and make sure things are run safe. Our school and district have a plan in place to make things as safe as possible.”
The South Carolina High League let teams begin Phase 1 of workouts (weightlifting and conditioning) on June 8, but Richland 1 and Richland 2 decided to wait because of the high number in COVID-19 cases around the state.
Taylor, who is one of two new coaches in Richland 1 along with CA Johnson’s Walt Wilson, has used the last few months to be in regular contact with his players on Zoom video meetings and to work with his coaching staff to implement the offensive and defensive schemes.
“It’s kind of been a blessing and a curse,” Taylor said. “We have been able to implement things and also do some cosmetic things around the weight room and things. The kids have been working out on their own and working with guys (trainers) like Perry Orth, Syvelle Newton and Ramon Robinson to get ready for the season, and I’m thankful for that.”
Phase 1.5 will begin around the state for schools on Monday. Under league rules, Richland 1 and Richland 2 can go straight to Phase 1.5, which will allow groups of 15 players and a coach and the shared use of a ball. The SCHSL hasn’t said when Phase 2 can begin or what it will look like, but the official start to preseason practices is Aug. 17.
Richland 1 said it won’t allow shared use of a ball for the first week of workouts.
“We already had a plan in place since June, and we are going to have to execute the plan,” Dreher High athletic director Jeff DiBattisto said. “We are most concerned about our kids and want to provide a safe environment. There are a lot of protocols in place to give our kids the most safe environment possible.”
Richland 1 and Richland 2 are the last Columbia-area school districts to start summer workouts, and they will be for fall sports only. Lexington County school districts, Lexington-Richland 5 and Newberry County schools all started workouts this summer before stopping because of virus concerns and then resuming over the last week.
Kershaw County schools and Gray Collegiate Academy have continued summer workouts without interruption.
Outside the Columbia area, Sumter County and Beaufort County schools have yet to begin workouts. Beaufort County said earlier this month that it will begin workouts on Aug. 10. Horry County had its workouts stopped but will resume them on Aug. 3, according to MyHorryNews.
Greenville, Dorchester 2, Charleston, and Georgetown schools also have suspended their workouts.
“We talked with our coaches today, and it is a lot to process and do to keep everyone safe,” Ridge View High athletic director Brian Rosefield said. “It is exciting though to have our athletes on campus. That is what we signed up to do.”
With workouts going on in a majority of the state, there is still some skepticism that there will be sports, especially football, played on campus this fall. Football is one of the sports considered high risk for spreading COVID-19. There’s always the possibility that workouts could be shut down again.
The S.C. High School League’s appellate panel decided to not vote last week on Lexington County’s appeal for the state to use its high school sports plan, which would shift high-risk sports into the new year. Another appellate panel meeting is set for 11 a.m. Aug. 10.
If Lexington wins the appeal, their plan would move football into January and baseball and softball to the fall. If the appeal is denied, the SCHSL plan would remain in effect for the sports calendar. Under the SCHSL plan, teams would start practice as early as Aug. 17 with competitions beginning in September. The SCHSL is meeting with coaches and athletic directors on Thursday to talk about guidelines for the upcoming year.
Taylor, who was initially in favor of Lexington County’s plan, said he wouldn’t mind letting things play out in the fall to see if teams can have football when it is normally played.
“I don’t even want to stop and start,” Taylor said. “Don’t want to come work out for a week and then stop. It is totally unfair to kids at this point.”
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 1:41 PM.
