What does the wait to begin High School football mean?

Earlier this week, the decision was made by the VHSL to delay the start of the high school football season until February. 

With that decision comes several outcomes, both positive and negative. Health, safety,  and well-being are at the forefront of those items.

First, the delay means that student athletes will have to wait a few more months before possibly beginning competition.  Many have been out of that arena for a while as multisport athletes since the spring season was also canceled due to the current pandemic. 

The delay gives more time for a hopeful vaccine, the general public to adapt and change to the current environment and for planners to appropriately assess what things will look like once competition begins.

Granted, the latter two could have already been in motion but the progress we've seen as been less than admirable.  Particularly the general public's reaction to guidelines for safety.

Those people not following guidelines are the same one's clamoring about the current state of sports.  Most dont have a dog in the fight; that is they arent educators on the front line, they dont have children that participate in the public education environment and they aren't funding any health or education related initiative. 

As much as I enjoy sports at all levels, I believe public safety takes precedence.  It's not just the team participants that have to be considered either. It's the coaches and trainers, the transportation assistants, the fans and media, and the list goes on and on.

Do I know if taking precautions will change the outcome of how and when the virus spreads? No I dont and I'm not going to pretend I do. But does the general public know? I dont think so, I see many opinions put out but that's just what they are, opinions.  Everyone is entitled to their own but it's not worth chancing a person's life when there is a lot of unknown. 

So the best players will train a few more months. They will take this time as an opportunity to get better. They will focus on their diets, their skills, and the goals they have for when competition does begin.

The rest of us need to do the best we can with our day-to-day lives until there is more certainty. Do I love sports? Yes.  Would I still play if I could? Yes. Should I risk putting my son and his friends in the way of getting sick for the sake of my and others entertainment? No.

What say you?