COLUMBUS — The first steps were taken Thursday afternoon during Gov. Mike DeWine’s daily press briefing to bring back youth sports in the state of Ohio.

DeWine formally announced that non or low contact sports could return to the fields as of Tuesday, May 26.

On Friday, the state posted the restrictions for those sports, which in turn led to the Ohio High School Athletic Association to adjust some of its current restrictions for a variety sports. Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass sent a memo to the membership late Friday, informing it that as of May 26, the non-contact period, which has been in effect basically since March, will be lifted for the sports of baseball, softball, track and field, golf, swimming and tennis.

By lifting the non-contact, the school-board approved coaches can now work with student-athletes. However, the rules applying to baseball and softball, which were released on Friday by the state of Ohio, must be followed.

Other sports not listed remain in a non-contact period through, at least, the end of the month. One of the questions that the OHSAA is trying to get answered before it lifts further restrictions on coaches is what DeWine and the state deem a “low/non-contact sport.”

“A decision will be forthcoming on the non-contact period for the remaining sports as soon as information is provided to us,” Snodgrass said. “Under the current decision, all other sports have not been identified as being able to start.”

Snodgrass stressed patience to the schools’ coaches.

“Every intent is to align with the governor’s order,” Snodgrass continued.

A point of confusion arose because school facilities remain closed, according to an order from the Ohio Department of Health that was published late last month. However, during a press briefing earlier in the week, Lt. Gov. John Hustead indicated that that order didn’t include all athletic facilities.

In his release to the schools, Snodgrass pointed out the exact page and item number, from the order, that shows that the original order did include school’s athletic facilities.

On top of that, Snodgrass and the OHSAA continued to stress that they do not control facilities. That comes from the state level.