Column: Let them play high school sports or cancel it all? It's a tough call

I've gone back and forth on this about a million times. I've argued with myself and others about it. And still I'm not sure what the right thing to do is.

In case you haven't guessed already I'm talking about whether high school sports should return this fall, even amidst concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

Part of me says, "Let the kids play." Another part says, "It's still too dangerous, better play it safe and cancel the season."

Then another part thinks, "This has gone on long enough, the kids need to get back to some form of normality and the structure sports provide." Still another says, "What if a bunch of kids get sick and/or pass the virus on to an older person and they die?"

And on and on it goes. But it's a topic that's never far from my mind these days. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in that.

So what should happen? To be honest, you got me. I'm glad it's not my decision to make.

But it is the PIAA's to make, by a self-imposed Aug. 24 deadline. And perhaps with input from Gov. Tom Wolf, with whom the PIAA has requested a meeting to discuss the matter and its desire to move forward, which it was planning to do when Wolf dropped his "strongly recommend" line last week that all school sports shut down until Jan. 1.

Ugh. Don't get me started on that. Either shut it down or shut up and let the PIAA decide. Come on. I strongly recommend making clear and forceful decisions when in a leadership position.

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To its credit, the PIAA has at least made theirs, voting overwhelmingly (30-2) to go forward with some form of a fall sports season while leaving it up its member schools and league to delay the start or to cancel altogether if they don't feel comfortable proceeding with the season.

And maybe therein lies the answer. If a school district's players, coaches, administrators and parents feel comfortable with playing, play, assuming all possible safety precautions are being taken. If not, don't.

There are risks we all take every day. Granted, most of them aren't as significant as the one coronavirus provides and we do need to do all we can to stop it from spreading (WEAR A MASK, PLEASE!). You could get hit crossing the street tomorrow or, God forbid, contract some other deadly disease. But we all knew that before COVID-19 hit, too. 

But it remains a difficult decision, one with potentially long-lasting ramifications. 

One thing I'm sure of though is this: It's time to make a decision for the sake of the kids. Don't leave them hanging any longer. It's not right and it's not good for their physical and mental well-being to keep raising, then dashing, their hopes.

So rip the Band-Aid off and get on with it.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to go argue with myself again