Justice Rowing Family:
I wanted to update you on some good news about our program, as well as what we know about the upcoming rowing season.
First, we are very excited to announce that we have purchased a new boat trailer, which will provide us improved transportation of our shells, and sold our old trailer to a crew team that is just starting out. Second, we have sold one of our older quads and purchased a new quad, consistent with our team’s equipment replacement schedule.
Regarding our season, you have heard by now that Fairfax County will be starting school this Fall 100% virtual with online classes. Prior to this announcement, the Virginia High School League (VHSL) had proposed three alternatives for the ’20-21 high school sports and activities season. The three options are explained in the VHSL news release below. The VHSL plans to vote on July 27 on which proposal to adopt. Some of the proposals obviously do not look good for crew this/next year. For instance, Option 2 calls for the Fall/Winter and Spring seasons to be reversed. If crew were to start this Fall, it would be dependent on the re-opening of Sandy Run Regional Park, which is operated by the State of Virginia. If the Park did not re-open, crew this Fall would not be possible. We are waiting for decisions from several organizations that oversee rowing operations, and we are aware that the FCPS Crew Council and the Virginia Scholastic Rowing Association (VASRA – our governing crew body) will be advocating for rowing to return in the safest format and schedule possible.
There are many variables still at play: the continued and ever-changing pandemic conditions and decisions to be made by FCPS and the VHSL, as well as VASRA and Sandy Run Regional Park.
We wanted to let you know what we know at this point, and as decisions that affect our program become available we will send out additional information. Please reach out if you’ve got any questions about the above information.
For rowers with ERGs at home, keep on rowing—this situation will not last forever. And for others, find some time to get out and run, exercise, and get ready for our next rowing season.
—
Row Strong,
David Trissell
President
Justice Rowing Boosters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 15, 2020
VHSL will announce sports/activities plan for 2020-21 on July 27
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The VHSL Executive Committee met in special session Wednesday, July 15 for the purpose of discussing the fall sports season. The Executive unanimously voted (35-0-0) to meet on Monday, July 27, to vote on the three recommended models presented at the meeting for reopening sports and activities. The Committee also voted to delay the beginning of fall sports until a final decision is made on July 27. The Committee also suspended the July-August dead period for 2020 which means schools can continue out-of-season practice activities.
“It’s important to remember that in all these models playing sports in the high risk category depends on being out of the current Phase III guidelines. All our efforts will continue towards advocating for the opening of sports and activities in a safe and reasonable way that will protect athletes, activity participants, coaches, officials, and the public,” said VHSL Executive Director Dr. John W. “Billy” Haun. “The VHSL will continue making judgments based on the best available information and directives provided by the Governor, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).”
Shannon Butler, VHSL executive committee chairwoman and principal at York High School, said, “The goal in all our discussions has been to provide our student-athletes and activity participants the best opportunity to return to the playing fields, courts, track, and stages during this school year in a safe environment as possible.
“Our decision today will allow members of the executive committee to collaborate with the regions and groups that they represent to make a decision on July 27 that is in the best interest of our students; moving forward – our ultimate goal would be to have all of our student athletes the opportunity to safely represent their schools on the playing field during the 2020-2021 school year”
The three models presented to the Executive Committee for the opening of sports/activities are as follows:
Model 1 – Leave all sports in current season. Low and moderate contact risks sports that would be allowed to play are golf and cross country. High risk sports that would not be played are field hockey, football, volleyball, and cheer. Fall activities that would be allowed is theatre.
Model 2 – Switch Fall and Spring seasons. Low and moderate contact risk sports that would be allowed to play in the fall are track and field, tennis, soccer, baseball, and softball. High risk sports that would not be played are boys/girls lacrosse. Spring activities that would be allowed are theatre, forensics/debate, and film festival
Model 3 – Delay all VHSL sports and adopt the Condensed Interscholastic Plan. Leave all sports in the season where they are currently aligned.
· Season 1 (Winter) December 14 – February 20 (First Contest Date – December 28)
· Season 2 (Fall) February 15 – May 1 (First Contest Date – March 1)
· Season 3 (Spring) April 12 – June 26 (First Contest Date – April 26)
