Dear Parents and Boosters:

I wanted to update you since our OSAA Executive Board came to some resolutions yesterday.

The OSAA voted to have a new 3-sport season Tier in place starting on February 8th for football and February 22nd for the other fall sports. This is obviously a change from the August decision that put football into a season behind the winter sports. This new plan will allow for a 6-week regular season and a one-week culminating bowl game activity.

We are currently in a non-padded and non-contact practice format...that unfortunately for us at Grant HS, allows for about an hour and 15-minute practice because of our facility (lights) issue two times a week. We will stay in this format (Monday's and Wednesday's) for the rest of this week and next. We will then have no practice for the two weeks of Christmas vacation. We will resume non-padded and non-contact practices after the first of the year. There "may" be a chance of adding an additional day to our format before the February official start date.

A question you will probably be asking is..."what if our county metrics (OHA) don't change enough to allow us to resume normal practice procedures"? If that should happen...the OSAA Executive Board will reconvene to put a plan into place. There have been a number of scenarios discussed around this possibility...including moving the season further into winter and spring.

I want to be clear on a couple of items:

1. The OSAA is bound by law to follow the directives by the Governor's office and the OHA.
2. The data and science show some interesting facts that were not what was perceived early on in the pandemic concerning schools and/or competing in HS athletics.
3. 37 States played HS football this year. Alabama just finished 11 state championship games this past weekend for example.
4. Arizona is continuing to play football in a distance learning model.
5. It is up to each family to decide what is the best avenue moving forward for their child. If not playing is what they feel is best - then follow that lead. If having your son play is what you feel is best, then, like me, as a parent of a senior player - to get involved and moving forward there will be some opportunities to voice (in a positive manner).

If you have any specific comments or questions...you can always contact me and we can discuss those.

During this Holiday time, I want to say I sincerely appreciate having the chance to work with our kids...even if it is only two days a week. They are just outstanding young men who I truly care about. If there is ever anything I or the Parent Board can do to help any player or family...please let me know.

Thank you for this time....even if it is not "normal".

Happy Holidays,

John J. Beck
Grant High School
Head Football Coach
OACA Executive Board
OSAA Executive Board
Cell: 541-414-8803