The Texas High School Coaches Association released its own COVID-19 survey numbers earlier this week and the results were eye-opening: 65,290 athletes tested, 274 positive results, four hospitalizations, no deaths. The 0.425 percent positive rate somewhat surprised even the executive director of the nation's largest coaches association but not the effort to keep the numbers low.
"The results were pretty phenomenal to me," said Joe Martin, a Hall of Fame football coach who took over the organization's top post in 2019 after serving as assistant executive director for 14 years. "It just shows to me that Texas coaches believe in the system and protocols that have been put in place to keep our kids safe."
Gathering such numbers seems beyond the means of any coach organization, but the THSCA is no run-of-the-mill operation. It was organized 90 years ago and features more than 24,000 members representing all sports.
When its massive annual summer convention – which was expected to draw 15,000 people in San Antonio – was canceled due to COVID-19, the THSCA held the proceedings virtually.
With so much discussion about the virus, Martin said they decided to get a sense of just how prevalent it was among current athletes.
Utilizing its SportsYou app, THSCA polled athletes from 314 schools and 244 districts. The 65,290 who tested represents about 20 percent of the 330,307 who participated in athletics in 2018-19, according to statista.com.
"We really did it as an informal, voluntary survey," Martin said. "We were just curious what the numbers were and if following protocol and mitigation processes had worked. I think this shows it has."
Martin makes no bones that he hopes to "change the narrative," of any negative stories about coaches leading kids through the pandemic. He coached 26 years himself in Texas public schools, 18 as a head football coach at four different programs, including Mabank, Garland and Allen, while compiling a 150-54-4 career mark.
He won a 5A-II state championship at Garland in 1999 before laying the groundwork at Allen and its massive success over the last decade. His two sons followed in his footsteps and coach football.
"Coaches are sticking out their neck, putting their own family time
and careers on the line," he said. "None are complaining even
though they're doing a heck of a lot more than running practice or
conditioning."
In addition to tedious social distancing protocols, there are new ever-changing schedules coaches must address. On July 21, the UIL pushed back the start of its largest classifications, 6A and 5A, to begin football games Sept. 24-26.
The football playoffs
in those classifications, originally slated for Nov. 12, now begin
on Dec. 3. Championship games, originally
scheduled Dec. 16-19 at AT&T Stadium, now will take place sometime
in January.
Trophies aren't the end game these days for coaches, Martin said. The goals are much more basic.
"This isn't about winning championships or securing scholarships," Martin said. "It's all about the kids and team and the intangible benefits they gain through transformational leadership. … I think at this point we all need to buy in. The parents. The coaches. The athletes. The families. And trust each other in this process. We can get through this."
