LANSING, Mich. (Great Lakes News) – “Let them play.” That’s the message from the parents of high school athletes and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan to Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

The group that represents 6,000 basketball members across the state is asking the governor to allow contact sports starting February 1st, the same day restaurants can reopen at 25% capacity.

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The Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan responded to the state’s announcement on Friday that contact sports will be delayed until February 21. The association wrote a letter to Governor Whitmer explaining that the ban on contact sports is forcing many student-athletes to cross the state line to compete, creating problems related to equity.

Athletes of lower socioeconomic standing are missing out on opportunities to play and be seen by college recruiters.

View the letter here.