South Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Association
2020-2021 South Carolina High School League Academic Calendar Covid-19 Proposal
July 10, 2020
The South Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Association (SCHSSCA) submits the following proposal to the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association (SCACA) for the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) 2020-2021 Academic Calendar due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
This proposal took into consideration feedback from SCHSSCA membership via input from its’ message board, emails, social media, and direct conversations, including a panel of SCHSSCA members on a Zoom conference call July 9, 2020.
Foremost, the SCHSSCA would prefer that no decision on the 2020-2021 SCHSL Calendar be altered until deemed absolute necessary. Having lost the 2020 Spring soccer campaign just two weeks into the regular season, the SCHSSCA adamantly believes the SCHSL should respect the integrity of each sport and their allotted season. Should the SCHSL have to deal with postponements or even cancellations of other athletics in the Fall or Winter seasons, then unfortunately those sports may have to deal with the same ramifications that 2020 Spring athletic programs faced earlier this year.
After discussions with other Spring auxiliary coaches’ associations, the SCHSSCA believes SCHSL Spring sports have already sacrificed enough. If it happens to the Fall/Winter campaigns we hope those sports will display the same dignity that the Spring sports (baseball, b-golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, b-tennis, track/field) demonstrated this past year.
However, a formal conversation has taken place amongst SCHSSCA members and numerous proposals were discussed. Our Association – should a need arise – would be prepared to convey these alternatives with the SCHSL. What our Association would request is to have representation about any decisions that could affect prep soccer during the 2020-2021 academic year. Again, we hope that is not necessary, but are willing to work with the SCHSL to ensure another lost high school soccer season is not realized for its’ players, coaches, officials, families, and fans.
The SCHSSCA appreciates its’ parent organization, SCACA, for inclusion on this task as we work our way through the best-case scenarios for our student-athletes and coaches. It is our hopes and wishes that a full Spring prep athletics season will come to fruition in 2021.
Kevin Heise, Associate State Chairman
South Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Association
Gray Collegiate Academy
