It's a wait-and-see game right now for the public and private schools in the state as the news of the coronavirus spread last week while schools were out on spring break.
J.Z. George, which is part of the Mississippi High School Activities Association, will not be having any practices or games played in spring sports at least through March 29. That ruling was put in affect by the MHSAA Monday.
J.Z. George's Nathan Moncrief, who serves as assistant principal and athletic director, says students need to be encouraged at this time.
"It does seem like it's a possibility of losing spring sports. We need to help kids cope with it. We're all turning more into counselors. We're helping people and the kids understand what's going on," said Moncrief. "None of us has ever been through anything like this. This is a first for all of us. We're all trying to understand what's going on."
J.Z. George head football coach Ben Burton is encouraging his players to do things on their own.
"They have been lifting weights for a good while now, so I hope they will do something to maintain that," he said. "I'm not a spring sport coach, but I know this has to be hard on those guys who are playing their final seasons. It's disappointing. The main thing is to take care of yourself."
The Jaguar baseball team has played just one game this season, a 12-0 loss to Charleston on March 7.
Because of the ruling by the MHSAA, J.Z. George will have six games postponed from this week to March 28.
"I'm just telling the kids to be patient. If they can get with a teammate and throw somewhere just to keep their arms in shape, then do that, but we can't have any organized practices," said Tristan Ellingburg, the first-year baseball coach in North Carrollton.
The J.Z. George softball team, which has played one game so far this season, will have seven games postponed up until March 28.
