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NHIAA had few options in current situation

By Staff | Mar 12, 2020

The NHIAA is treading into some interesting territory here.

Thursday’s announced state tourney postponements smack of panic, a response to the pandemic spreading here and throughout the world known as “Coronavirus.”

Certainly, the administrators would eschew the term panic and head toward “precautionary.”

A release just hours later by the same NHIAA folks reassured the fact that sound minds are attempting to handle a potentially explosive situation with sanity and common sense.

“During these difficult times, the NHIAA is committed to allowing teams to finish out their seasons. Our students have worked very hard and we owe this to them. Unfortunately, because of this escalating health issue, the NHIAA must limit the number of spectators who are able to attend. We request that anyone exhibiting signs and symptoms of illness refrain from attending.”

The games will go on. These administrators understand that it does, indeed, matter.

On Wednesday night, myself and about 1,000 others crammed into Everett Arena in Concord for the state Division II hockey semifinals between Saint Thomas and Merrimack High.

Similar scenarios have played out all over the state for the better part of the last couple weeks. The night oozed positivity.

Again, young kids cheering on their classmates in a competitive event, based on your school

community.

That situation has become as integral a part of the educational process as health class.

There will be limits. Players will be given four tickets only for the remaining events. Student sections will not be allowed in.

Houses will be light. But it’s something.

That will quickly bring the conversation to spring.

The NHIAA has to realize the importance of sports in the spring for these student athletes.

As long as there is school, sports should be a part of the landscape.

Spring sports, other than volleyball, are outdoors with limited fan involvement compared to football or the winter sports.

The good news? Under the pressure, with time constraints in a volatile, worrisome time worldwide, the NHIAA proved it could deliver an intelligent solution.

Heading to the spring, you have to be confident that those folks will do the right thing for the ones who matter most — the student athletes.

And that is a very good thing.

ODDS AND ENDS

Congrats the Nashua PAL boxing tandem of Mike Fontanez and Jesse Batanda, each of whom won New England Golden Gloves titles last week in Lowell. Next up for the two ring combatants is a trip to the National Golden Gloves, hopefully in May. …

Finally, look around your office this morning. If you are working from home, imagine you are in the office. Now, figure out which woman, who picks teams because of their geography, cute mascot or color scheme, will have to do without her usual winnings from the company “March Madness” pool. Me? I already know. I save money because there is no tournament.

——

EDITOR’S NOTE: This content is being provided for free as a public service to our community during the coronavirus outbreak. Please support local journalism by subscribing to The Telegraph at https://home.nashuatelegraph.com/clickshare/checkDelivery.do;jsessionid=40C089D96583CD7318C1C1D9317B6162.

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