Athletes from baseball teams in the Maricopa County Community College District came together to make a video pleading for help in getting the district to allow them to play the 2020-21 season.

Glendale Community College, Phoenix Community College, Gateway Community College, Chandler Gilbert Community College, Mesa Community College and Scottsdale Community College were all represented in the video.

The video comes in response to the district recommending on June 25 to cancel all sports for the school year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Meanwhile, the National Junior College Athletic Association, the governing body of community college sports, recommended Monday to move close-contact fall sports to the spring semester.

“Through a unified effort from our Presidential Advisory Council, the Board of Regents, and leadership staff, our most recent plan of action provides a path that keeps our student-athletes competing at the highest level with proper safety measures in place,” said Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO. “As we move forward as an association, we will continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, coaches, and all those involved with the NJCAA to be safe and successful.”

Close-contact sports involved include football, men’s and women’s soccer and court volleyball. The NJCAA cross country championships and half marathon championships will remain in the fall as well as Division III women’s tennis. All winter sports competition is scheduled to begin in January.

The Maricopa County district has not reacted to the news. Critics of their decision have collected more than 16,000 signatures on change.org. Meanwhile, the district held two virtual community forums recently.