The Phoenix Union High School District let families know in a strong statement released Tuesday that it is not ready to play sports because of the COVID-19 pandemic, while taking a shot at the Arizona Interscholastic Association for moving forward.
The district, in its statement, cited inequities that unfairly are penalizing areas hardest hit by the coronavirus, many of which have large Hispanic or Latino populations.
The AIA, with updated and more stringent recommendations from its Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, is moving towards a fall football season with most of the first varsity games taking place on Oct. 2.
Many schools in the state are in helmets this week as official practices began.
But not the 11 PXU schools, which sit in hot spots in west and southwest Phoenix where COVID-19 case counts have been higher than many other areas of the Valley, according to zip code maps maintained by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
The district’s high schools are largely located in areas of south and west Phoenix, in areas with heavily Hispanic or Latino populations. As of Tuesday, the ADHS web site showed 30% of all COVID-19 cases confirmed in Arizona have been Hispanic or Latino individuals, the highest percentage of any groups where ethnicity was confirmed, including white patients, with 23% of cases. Another 34% involved cases where ethnicity was not confirmed, along with 6 percent Native American and 3 percent black or otherwise non-white.
“Our student-athletes deserve to play just as much as others across our state,” the PXU statement reads. “For thousands of athletes, sports is life. It’s a safe place, an outlet, and a positive and healthy social experience. For a few, it’s a ticket to college and professional sports. For many in rural and urban Arizona, sports may be the only path to college.
“Unfortunately, the AIA has no policy on equitable access to sports. Or, if it does, it doesn’t apply to global healthcare pandemics. As other sports programs are watching film, ours are watching county and state websites to determine if, and when, it will be safe to return.”
The statement went on to question equity issues raised by the situation, though stressing it was not blaming the AIA.
“It certainly does not feel fair. Many would argue that it is not. The NFL would not launch its season and yet remove Arizona and Florida teams from a schedule because of the local spread,” the PXU statement said.
“That is not to say the AIA is to blame. Arizona is a very vast and diverse state. There are no easy answers. There is no win-win. But we do believe, in the least, this should be a moment of reflection — a moment to revisit vision, values, purpose. Every athlete should have an equal chance to compete — before, during and after COVID-19. The current emergency transfer rule does not solve the equity issue but rather exacerbates it.”
Over the weekend, two of the district’s top athletes — Phoenix Central receiver/defensive back Eric Lira (to Gilbert Mesquite) and Phoenix Alhambra quarterback/defensive back Jaden “Chico” Crockett (to Phoenix Mountain Pointe) — said they were transferring to schools in districts moving forward with fall football.
The AIA, in its eligibility bylaws, allows for athletes to transfer without penalty if the school he or she is leaving doesn’t have that sport during the season.
The PXU statement mentions how there are still several zip codes in its district that still is in the red (restricted) zone for a return to athletics because of the coronavirus spread. Schools must be in the yellow (moderate) range to resume conditioning for athletics, the statement says.
“PXU is almost entirely red, while much of the state is in the yellow and green,” it says, citing the three levels of community spread identified by health officials as a measure for safely allowing various activities.
When the AIA conference leaders put together schedules last week, the Phoenix Union district schools were absent.
“Many in the rural and urban Arizona are sidelined,” the district statement says. “That is because, frustratingly and tragically, rural and urban areas in the state and in the nation are disproportionately and negatively impacted by COVID-19.”
Schools on northern Arizona Indian reservation lands, which had been hit hard early on in the pandemic, previously postponed all fall sports.
PXU is in the process of meeting with school administrators and coaches to make a final decision on fall sports. The district anticipates releasing its plans within the week.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today