Despite going undefeated so far, the Chippewa Hills’ Junior Varsity football team will not play again this season. The team has tied once, and rescheduled once, only four weeks into the season.
“We sat down as a staff; coaches, administration staff, the athletic staff, and we wanted to obviously try to make the best decision for as many kids as possible,” says Chippewa Hills’ Athletic Director Michael Fosburg.
Players now have to decide whether to play or quit football this year.
“They’re all given the the option and we’re obviously hoping they stick around and continue our support and help our varsity football team,” says Fosburg. “Some have chosen to help and some have chosen to not stick it out.”
The school administration made the decision over the course of several weeks with players quarantining for COVID-19, player injuries and problems with eligibility. The logistics behind planning games became too much for coaches and staff. Players were also becoming exhausted as new Michigan High School Athletics Association rules allows them to play five quarters of football per week. They were able to play a full game for one team and then a quarter of another.
Parents of the JV team have voiced their concerns about the decision, having been told Monday. One concern is the lack of communication between the administration and families.
“Parents could have been notified of it sooner and that maybe we could have all that together before a decision was made to see if could come to a workable solution for all of our boys and girl,” says Sara Wanstead, a parent to one of the players on the team.
“I don’t any of the players to be seen as quitters,” she said.
Wanstead is also concerned about the difference in experience between JV and varsity. Her son is over 6 feet but he’s only played football for a few years. Some kids start playing in early elementary school.
“It’s more an understanding of the game and also feeling like he’s a freshman and he should put his time in on JV,” she says.
The decision to end the season is not an easy one considering many players don’t feel ready to play varsity or give up the playing time they might have had on JV. The hopes are to bring the team back next year.
“The only thing we can do now is move forward and try to do better going forward,” says Fosburg.
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