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Mike White's high school sports chat: 12.22.20
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Mike White
11:00
It's the most wonderful time of the year - but not if you're a high school athlete in winter sports. As you know, high school sports in Pa. are shut down until Jan. 4. But that doesn't mean we can't still chat about them. Let's go.
Lance
11:00
Hey Mike first off, Happy Holidays to you and your family! Next, would you be surprised if the winter season gets extended and the spring season starts later? I feel like that’s what will happen. It sucks because most of the schools that were shut down are letting kids practice again.
Mike White
11:05
Why thank you, Lance. Happy holidays to you. I quit predicting what Governor might do a while ago. It's not good to predict when you have no idea. As for the winter season getting extended, it already has been extended by the PIAA for a week or so. Right now, state basketball championships will be last weekend in March. That's fine. Will the shutdown be extended more? Who really knows. I think it would be fine if you had to do state basketball championships maybe in early April, first or second weekend. Baseball and softball usually don't get on field much for games before first week in April anyway. And heck, extend baseball and softball to late June if needed. As for schools that are shut down, letting kids practice again, I don't understand what you mean? They can't practice until Jan. 4, so that isn't happening.
Santa
11:05
If the state is requiring masks to be worn, why wouldn't the PIAA and WPIAL mandate masks be worn for playoff games if they choose to play in the tournament?  The team not wearing a mask should have to forfeit, not the other way around.  They are punishing teams for following mask recommendations and mandates.                If teams want to play games during the regular season without a mask they should be allowed to.  However, if you CHOOSE to play in the playoffs you must follow the COVID mask guidelines as a contingent. Thoughts?
Mike White
11:11
Well Santa, let me try to set you sleigh straight because you are off course here. It may take more than few sentences. First off, the state is requiring masks, but there is an exception for schools. If schools feel athletes wearing masks is not safe for breathing in competitions or games, then the athletes don't have to wear them. Many schools are not requiring masks. Secondly, I say YOU have things backwards. Again, teams are NOT REQUIRED to wear masks if their school thinks it's unsafe. It's clearly in the recommendations from Governor. So, the team not wearing masks is willing to play. A small percentage of schools in WPIAL will not permit its teams to play an opponent not wearing masks. So, let me ask you this: If a team is not willing to play a game, who do you think should forfeit? Certainly not the team willing to play.
11:13
Also in reference to the mask thing with schools. You can bet that schools might be changing their stance on masks if it means they have to forfeit a playoff game.
jack
11:13
Mike what happens if a kid has a medical issue that prevents them from wearing a mask. Are they just not allowed to play and who makes that decision the other team or school?
Mike White
11:16
A medical issue is one of the "exceptions" allowed for not wearing a mask. That athlete would still be allowed to play. If an opponent won't play because that one athlete is not wearing a mask for medical reasons, then the game is "no contest" if it's in the regular season. Schools are supposed to discuss these issues before the day of the game. But again, if a school refuses to play because an opponent is not wearing a mask, they will forfeit in the playoffs. But I would predict that won't happen come playoff time. Maybe in the regular season, but no way in the playoffs.
TravelBaseball
11:16
What matters more in a high school player’s recruitment, his play during the high school season or his play during the travel season?
Mike White
11:20
Depends on the sport. In football, it's still largely what you do on the field in the season. However, many more colleges are evaluating players some on how they might look at their camp on campus. Other sports, it's different. Travel ball is gigantic for baseball - at least these national type events. AAU basketball is gigantic in recruiting. But you'll still see college coaches a little at high school games.
Dee
11:20
With the setup of this open tournament,  seeding is going to be very important.  Do you think WPIAL will recognize section winners and give them higher seeds (maybe even a bye)?  Or is going to just straight eye test/records for the seedings?
Mike White
11:27
It will be a combination of things. Your record. Strength of teams you beat. Some sections might be able to complete their schedules. That will be considered. But some sections will not complete schedules. So it's going to be largely opinions from WPIAL basketball committee. But that was the way it was before. They've been seeding teams for years. But a few notable things: I don't think ALL teams will participate in playoffs. I have a story coming out tomorrow looking back at the other time the WPIAL had an open tournament. It was 1984. Twelve boys teams and 23 girls teams elected not to participate. They were bad teams. They figured "why?" Also, don't look for the No. 1 team to play maybe the No. 26 seed in a classification. WPIAL boss Amy Scheuneman showed us a sample bracket yesterday for a class with 26 teams. Maybe the top 6 seeds get a bye. The No. 7 seed would play the No. 26, and No. 10 would play the No. 23. The winners would play in the next round, so you would conceivably still have a 7-10 game.
11:30
Another big thing for the new basketball playoffs is higher-seeded team would play at home through the semifinals. Having home games cuts down on exposure to virus because you cut out the neutral site school.
Festivus
11:30
Are any outside of high school sports like club or travel hockey playing right now? Also, how are high school players working the recruiting process with no games right now. Got to be tough.
Mike White
11:33
Governor's orders said all high school and youth sports, club or otherwise. So they are not supposed to be playing. As for recruiting, c'mon. A three-week period without games is not going to "drastically" hurt recruiting. Not having sports last spring, no AAU basketball in summer ... now that affects recruiting. And if winter sports would get canceled - Gosh, let's hope not - now that would affect recruiting. But three weeks without games isn't going to hurt all that much.
Festivus
11:45
How you you fill the paper with no games? Features, covid sports updates, etc.
Mike White
11:46
Yep. You answered your own question.
Guyn412
11:53
Has there ever been any talk about extending the time of high school basketball games to 10 min quarters?
Mike White
11:54
Not that I know of. There is more talk of a shot clock than extending quarters.
11:55
Well everyone, that's about it for today. Just a note. All-state football teams will be release this afternoon for 1A, 2A and 3A. Other three tomorrow. Check Post-Gazette web site for teams. Everyone, be good and happy holidays. Thanks for the interest.
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