“As long as there is hope that there is school, there is hope for play"”

S.C. High School League Commissioner Jerome Singleton.

As the school year dwindles down during the current pandemic, the S.C. High School League still holds out hope for some resumption of spring sports play.

At Thursday’s teleconference, the league announced spring sports will remain suspended in accordance to S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s order to keep schools closed through April 30. 

At the same time, Commssioner Jerome Singleton said plans are still being discussed to lay out plans for the student-athletes to compete in post season play if afforded by the governor and the S.C. Department of Heath and Environmental Control.

“As long as there is hope that there is school, there is hope for play,” Singleton said. 

In addition to spring sports, Singleton discussed the league creating options of virtual conditioning for the players. This is where players can complete non-contact online workouts implemented by their coaches. 

Some coaches and players are already informally doing this through social media by having workout plans available.

A regularly-scheduled April 22 meeting will take place which includes budget planning for the 2020-21 school year, the election of new officers and new rule implementations. 

Singleton acknowledged the possibility of a drop in revenue if there are no playoffs. A final audit will be available in August. 

Friday marks the final day of SCISA’s self-imposed suspension. Director of Athletics Mike Fanning said SCISA has formulated plans should they receive medical clearance from the governor and DHEC to resume sporting activities as quickly as possible.

Fanning said “all plans are still on the table” in regards to completing spring sports this school year with an abbreviated regular season or post-season. SCISA could conduct tournaments in golf, softball and track and field in a weekend and plans are still being discussed for baseball depending on what Fanning believes is “feasible”.

While SCISA still hope to conduct school graduations, Fanning said current plans do not have SCISA extending its spring sports seasons into June. Northside Christian and W.W. King Academy are the lone SCISA schools in Chronicle Country.