COLUMBUS – On Monday, July 27, the Ohio High School Athletic Association sent a survey to member schools as part of a mission to collect data to develop a Plan B for Fall sports.

On Thursday, the data collected from that survey was made available to member schools.

First Question

The first question asked for the individual’s preference regarding his or her athletic program for both low/non-contact sports and contact sports for the 2020-21 season. There were three options to choose from.

Option A stated: Begin all sports programs as they are currently planned and scheduled for the fall of 2020.

Option B stated: Delay the start of all fall sports programs as appropriate and begin when/if conditions change.

Option C stated: Pursue a plan that moved the spring low/non-contact sports to the fall and moved the fall contact sports to the spring with the start date to be determined.

Option D stated: Cancel all fall sports programs as they are currently planned and scheduled now and decide about conducting seasons later in the year when/if conditions change.

The results from superintendents, principals, athletic administrators and those who did not state a position had 611 choosing Option A, 477 choosing Option B, 265 choosing Option C and 166 choosing Option D. The majority of those surveyed voted to start fall sports on time with the current plan.

Second Question

The second question asked what the individuals surveyed preference was regarding low/non-contact sports for 2020 as current state mandates permit the low/non-contact sports of golf, tennis and volleyball to begin as they are currently planned and scheduled.

Option A: Begin these low/non-contact sports programs as they are currently planned and scheduled for fall 2020, and begin the contact sports seasons as appropriate when/if conditions change.

Option B: Begin these low/non-contact sports seasons as they are currently planned and scheduled for fall 2020, even if that means the contact sports season may be canceled.

Option C: Delay the start of these low/non-contact sports programs, and begin both low/non-contact sports and contact sports seasons as appropriate when/if conditions change.

Option D: Delay the start of these low/non-contact sports programs even if that means the contact sports season may be canceled.

Option E: Pursue a plan that moved the spring low/non-contact sports to the fall and moves the fall contact sports to the spring with the start to be determined.

Option F: Cancel all fall sports programs as they are currently planned and scheduled now and decide about conducting seasons later in the year when/if conditions change.

Of those surveyed, 664 chose Option A, 175 chose Option B, 255 chose Option C, 59 chose Option D, 224 chose Option E and 127 chose Option F. The overwhelming response was to begin the non-contact sports on time as scheduled with 127 wishing to shift sports around in fall and spring seasons.

Third Question

The third question asked those surveyed what their preferences are regarding scrimmages in contact sports like cross country, field hockey, football and soccer when testing restrictions are removed despite the state mandates permitting practices to begin as school-to-school scrimmages, previews, contests and tournaments are currently permitted, but with testing restrictions. 

Option A: I am in favor of competition beginning in the contact sports for field hockey, football and soccer without any scrimmages being held.

Option B: I am in favor of competition beginning in sports of field hockey, football and soccer, but a minimum of one scrimmage should be permitted in those sports.

Option C: I have no preference as it relates to scrimmages.

Of those surveyed, 466 chose Option A of no scrimmages, 589 chose Option B of having one scrimmages and Option C chose 445 with no preferences.

Fourth Question

The fourth question asked if there are any type of delays to the beginning of the fall sports season, what the surveyed person’s preference was regarding a delay.

Option A: Delay the start two weeks until, say, Monday, Aug. 17.

Option B: Delay the start three weeks until, say, Monday, Aug. 24.

Option C: Delay the start four weeks until, say, Monday, Aug. 31

Option D: Delay the start two months until, say, Monday, Sept. 28.

The overwhelming favorite option was Option A with 594 choosing two weeks. Option B saw 177 votes, Option C was second-most popular with 475 and Option D had 252.

Fifth Question

The fifth question asked what the surveyed person’s preference was if the fall season was operated but shortened regarding the regular season and OHSAA tournaments.

Option A: Maintain the full regular season and maintain full OHSAA tournaments

Option B: Maintain the full regular season and reduce OHSAA tournaments.

Option C: Reduce the regular season and maintain full OHSAA tournaments.

Option D: Reduce regular season and reduce OHSAA tournaments.

Option E: Reduce regular season and eliminate OHSAA tournaments.

The favorite option was Option C with 614 of those surveyed recommending a reduced regular season and a full OHSAA tournament. Option A had 276 votes, Option B had 157, Option D; 325 and Option E; 126.

Sixth Question

The sixth and final question asked: While conducting on-campus sports activities this summer, with the majority of the participants being your own student-athletes, to your knowledge, did anyone – student or adult – test positive for COVID-19 as a result of the on-campus participation?

Option A: Yes.

Option B: No.

Of those surveyed, 1,330 said no, and 169 said yes.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine is supposed to address high school sports next week, but fall sports will be full-go into their preseason practices by then. It is still unknown if the survey will be used in the decision-making process.

jfurr@gannett.com

740-244-9934

Twitter: @JakeFurr11