The significance of last week's vote by the PIAA Board of Directors to permit fall sports drew mixed opinions from Upper Perkiomen's head coaches. Two expressed pleasure with the decision.

            A majority of respondents described it as less than definitive. Two called it relatively insignificant. John Brittain, the high school golf coach and a member of the sport's District One Steering Committee, said the board did not want to be seen as the organization responsible for canceling sports due to concerns over COVID-19.

            "They did not want to be perceived as the bad guys," Brittain said last weekend.

            The Aug. 21 vote means that individual conferences and school districts will determine the immediate fate of fall sports. The Pioneer Athletic Conference and Upper Perkiomen School Board will determine what happens going forward, according to head football coach Tom Hontz. The school will stick with dates to officially begin practice (Sept. 8) and to commence competition (Sept. 25) set by the conference.

            "I'm hopeful we follow the PIAA lead, but there are many variables," wrote Hontz in a text. This whole thing is tough. We really want to compete. Fingers crossed, we will."

            Mike Freed, coach of the girls soccer team, expressed cautious optimism that the decision would lead to a fall season. He wrote in an email that a path for that outcome has emerged.

            "Until we hear otherwise, we'll keep preparing for the start of official practices on Sept. 7," he wrote in an email message received Monday morning. "A lot still needs to go right, including approval by our own school board, approval by other schools in the league and approval by an adequate number of schools within District One."

            Jamie Warren and Todd Niemann – the school's field hockey and cross country coaches, respectively – welcomed the outcome. According to Warren, it provides her players with hope and a purpose. Niemann wrote in a text that he was surprised by the 25-5 vote.

            "I thought it was going to be close," he wrote. "I'm happy though. This will be a unique season. No invitational [meets], probably no championship meets. Only dual meets. Some PAC schools have opted out and more probably will."

            Both coaches stated that their athletes are eager to compete. According to Niemann, his runners will continue to operate with protocols related to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

            "The kids have been great," he wrote. "They have been extremely flexible and resilient. Hope we get a chance to compete."

            Brittain said he would support whatever decision the Upper Perkiomen School Board renders on the fall season. He said that if his sport is allowed to proceed, the golfers would likely be required to compete in the Pioneer Athletic Conference and District One individual championships before completing matches.

            "If the season proceeds, everybody is going to be happy to have that opportunity," Brittain said. "I have the feeling that just one positive test will shut it all down."

            According to boys head soccer coach Kyle Fisher, the vote did not change his perspective on the season. He wrote in a text that he is pleased that his players will have an opportunity to play in the fall.