Last week, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced that fall sports would be postponed through the remainder of the year. That means no powerhouse Catholic League football, like St. Joe’s Prep and La Salle College High School.

Parents are understandably upset, and have organized a rally through Facebook that will take place Friday morning in front of the 17th street Archdiocese headquarters.

One of the main gripes, judging from the posts, seems to be the fact that the AOP is having some in-person classes in the fall, but no sports at all.

Wrote Donna:

“Let me wrap my head around this: My son gets to attend his catholic high school every other day, but does not get to play fall sports. The school district we live in, Central Bucks, is 100% virtual start to the school year (reported it is due to staffing shortages), just approved fall sports 8-1 in favor tonight.”

In one case you have in-person learning and no sports. But in the other case, you have virtual learning while sports are allowed.


That’s funky, but not unexpected, since the PIAA and state government basically just left it up to individual districts to make their own decisions on whether or not to play.

Here’s another complaint, from Micki:

“We pay a school fee of $1,850/year for activities. Over the 9 months of school that is about $205/month. Why do I have to pay this fee if the school isn’t allowing my child to participate? For every month there are no offered activities, I want $205 refunded.

If you switch the fall sports schedule to spring (what a joke,) I still want $205/month back. My daughter wouldn’t be able to participate in her fall sport when she will be playing her spring sport.

These administrators are so out of touch!”

Good point about two-sport athletes. If you played football in the fall and tennis in the spring, you ain’t doing both of ’em this year. Now you’re making kids choose one or the other, which also sucks.

The whole thing stinks, and you feel bad for kids who are going to miss out on their senior year of sports, which also ends their competitive athletic careers entirely, since the vast majority will not be playing college sports. That’s the nature of the pandemic, though. There’s no magic bullet, and we’re all just sort of flying by the seat of our pants.