HARRISBURG, Pa. — Families gathered at the state capitol in Harrisburg Thursday to rally in favor of fall sports.
"Let Kids Play in PA" was coordinated by a woman from Luzerne County.
"Let them play! Let them play!"
The rally was in response to Governor Wolf's recommendation to postpone youth sports until January. High school seniors, their parents, school and state officials spoke at the event.
People at the rally believe the decision on whether to play should be left up to athletes' parents and organizations such as the PIAA.
Several football players from the Lake-Lehman School District were at the rally.
"I want my senior football season to be honest," Blaise Napierkowski said.
"There's 100 percent safe ways to do this, and the answer is not to cancel our season," said senior Nick Zaboski.
Lake-Lehman Superintendent Jim McGovern spoke at the rally.
"This is what they want. That's my job to help them make their dreams come true," said McGovern. "These students want this. They have the discipline, they have the responsibility, and they deserve the right to make that choice. The families deserve the right to make that choice."
Students at Lake-Lehman have already practiced football wearing masks.
"We regulate the times that we come into practice from the linemen and the skills, so there's not too many people in the locker rooms. We make sure we spread out between the weight room and outside, and there's not too many people. We sanitize everything after everything we do," Zaboski said.
The PIAA is scheduled to meet again Friday to discuss the fate of high school fall sports.
Students and their families hope officials will let them play.