Did Dutch Fork athletes using school field violate rule? If so, they might not be alone
Dutch Fork football might have violated a S.C. High School League rule this week, but they might not be the only school around the state to be guilty of it.
A Dutch Fork player posted a video to Twitter of players running and catching pass routes Tuesday at Fox Field. With schools shut down and coronavirus restrictions in place, the “use of school facilities will not be permitted” by teams and athletes, the SCHSL said in memos released April 8 and April 30.
The appropriateness of the workout was called into question Wednesday, and the video was deleted. No Dutch Fork coaches were shown in the video or believed to have been present.
Dutch Fork football coach and athletic director Tom Knotts was aware of the video and referred comment Wednesday to the Lexington-Richland 5 School District.
“From Coach Knotts: The DF Football Field is not to be used at anytime by any athlete until the School District grants permission. Thank you,” was posted to the Dutch Fork football Twitter page late Wednesday afternoon.
Lexington-Richland 5 School District also released a statement regarding the matter.
“We are aware of reports of student-athletes working out at Dutch Fork High School and can confirm that these were not authorized practice or workout sessions. Based on our initial review, no coaches or staff were onsite. We will continue to investigate the reports and will decline to comment further,” the statement said.
The State found a few other examples on social media of in-state athletes working out at their school’s stadiums since the ban on such activities has been in place. All of those posts, found on Twitter, were deleted by Wednesday afternoon.
“Coaches, be sure your athletes understand that any activity on our fields is prohibited until the district and SCHSL clear us to do so,” a post read late Wednesday afternoon on Bluffton High School’s athletics Twitter page.
SCHSL commissioner Jerome Singleton told The State that the league is looking into the matter. Any ruling made in the situation would be relayed to the school and not made public.
According to the SCHSL handbook, penalties for violation of open practice rules can vary depending on whether or not a school is a first-time offender. Penalties include everything from just a warning to monetary fines, loss of practice time or loss of a preseason scrimmage.
Athletes also have posted videos working out with personal trainers but not on school property. Schools have been closed since March 17 and are closed for the remainder of the year because of the coronavirus. The shut down wiped out most of the state’s spring sports seasons.
The Silver Foxes won their four straight Class 5A title in 2019 and finished the season ranked in the top 10 nationally.
This week was supposed to be the first week of open practice for fall sports to begin. Under the April 30 SCHSL memo, schools are allowed virtual workouts provided it doesn’t require athletes and coaches to be in one location and that it occurs after school hours.
The league said it will follow the Gov. Henry McMaster’s lead for when to open up the season for summer practices. If the restrictions are lifted, the earliest that practices can begin is June 1.
The SCHSL Executive Committee also said they would be willing to lift the league’s dead period (no workouts) for the week after July 4 to give the athletes an extra week to practice in the summer.
This story was originally published May 6, 2020 at 5:34 PM.
