BELL COUNTY, Texas — The University Interscholastic League recently extended its suspension of high school extra-curricular activities.
Instead of resuming May 4, they're now suspended indefinitely. This means if spring sports do return this school year, they will look very different.
"I think the UIL has gone about it the right way," Salado Baseball Coach Emery Atkisson said. "I think they're going about it right by the kids by not canceling everything out."
Atkisson is in his second year as the head baseball coach at Salado High School. He said their district, District 27-4A, has planned for a district tournament. He also said that they don't know whether the normal four teams will get into the playoffs either.
"It would definitely be different," Atkisson said. "We would have to be creative to make sure we do it the right way."
As far as the logistics of what a district tournament might look like in baseball, there are several options. But, Atkisson said the district hasn't discussed it yet.
Those options include playing the tournament on campuses in the district or renting a baseball centrally-located complex.
Bracket-wise, Atkisson said there may not be time for a double-elimination bracket, which is standard in baseball. His full explanation is in the video below.
Meanwhile, 5A and 6A schools across the state have canceled spring football practice. Only allowed in UIL's two largest classifications, these practices usually happen toward the end of the school year.
Shoemaker High School Head Football Coach and Campus Athletic Coordinator Toby Foreman was the first in Central Texas to publicly cancel spring practices in lieu of an extra week and scrimmage in the fall. He cited the lack of time between the earliest they could return to the classroom and the end of the school year.
"It's too much to fit into a short period of time," Foreman said.
Foreman also said that even if the timeline is different than normal, he doesn't see a school year happening without high school football.
"I think that this is Texas and if we go to school at all in the 2020-2021 school year, there will be a football season," Foreman said.
Foreman also said he's, "Heartbroken" for the spring sports at his campus. All of which were in the midst of historic runs.
Shoemaker's softball team was poised to make the playoffs for the second-straight year and third time ever, its baseball team was poised to make a rare trip to the playoffs and its track team returned almost everyone from last year's district championship squad.
Through all of this, both coaches said they're hopeful they'll get back to normal and checking in on their players to make sure they're O.K. and that in the event they are able to take the field again this year, they're prepared.
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