Dear Southwestern Athletic Conference Athletes and Families,
Continuing to communicate with the Southwestern Conference (SWC) community is important to us. This message is meant to provide our families and athletes with an update on resuming competition.
The SWC Superintendents continue to rely on the guidance and expertise of the Lorain County Health Commissioner when it comes to decision making about athletics. The Superintendents from all SWC schools met this morning and have determined that athletic competitions will resume, beginning Monday, December 14, 2020. Our conference priority is to play a full SWC schedule and we recognize that there are some sports that play competitively with schools outside of the SWC (e.g. hockey, gymnastics, bowling, swimming and wrestling). Due to this fact, we are permitting non-conference competitions in those sports to move forward this weekend provided the schools involved mutually agree to do so. In addition, school district affiliated youth teams may resume competition this weekend if they are able to do so.
Listed below are some important points to help guide our conference teams and families:
- Boys and Girls Basketball – As it relates to basketball, the athletic directors in the conference will make every effort to schedule both boys and girls competitions against the same schools during the week. For instance, if the girls’ team from District A is scheduled to play girls’ team from District B, every effort should be made for the boys’ teams from each district to play the same week. For basketball, SWC competitions will be prioritized over any non-conference games that may be on schedules. As a result, in order to complete a full SWC schedule, all non-conference games may need to be cancelled.
- Cheerleaders will not travel to away basketball competitions.
- Family Members Attending Events – Ohio’s Governor and the Ohio High School Athletic Association have requested a limitation to spectators during competitions. We believe there needs to be consistency across the conference with regards to fan attendance ant that only immediate family members should attend events. As a result, the conference athletic directors will make a decision on the number of tickets available to each athlete, and the number of tickets available will be consistent across all conference schools. If SWC schools are able to do so, they will live stream competitions.
- Gatherings After Competitions – While we are limiting the number of spectators at conference competitions, after speaking to the Health Commissioner, his biggest concern regarding COVID19 spread is with athletes and families gathering after games. While we understand that people want to congregate after a competition, it is critical that sound judgment is used in order to protect our athletes’ seasons. We have seen spread occur with these types of gatherings.
- Please contact your local Athletic Department and team coaches for guidance on practice schedules and safety protocols.
In closing, parents and student-athletes should know that the goal of everyone is to have our student-athletes continue to compete within the conference and be prepared for the State Playoffs. Athletes have put in a considerable amount of time and effort in the off-season to prepare for competition. Please do your part to follow all protocols and safety measures to allow them to have a season.
Sincerely,
Michael McCarthy
Southwestern Conference Commissioner
Southwestern Conference Superintendents:
Steve Sayers – Amherst
Mike Laub – Avon
Bob Scott – Avon Lake
Tracy Wheeler – Berea-Midpark
Dr. Bruce Willingham – Midview
Roxann Ramsey-Caserio – North Ridgeville
Dr. Mike Zalar – North Olmtsed
Dr. Jim Lloyd – Olmsted Falls
Dr. Scott Goggin – Westlake
