Sports Set Back for Student Safety
All sports have been pushed back into two seasons for 2021
By Katherine Rowe
All sports have been pushed back into two seasons for 2021
By Katherine Rowe
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, it is currently not safe to hold sporting events and practices, but the Blossom Valley Athletic League has plans to allow athletes to compete by postponing the fall and winter seasons until the curve can be flattened.
With a shorter amount of time that can be used for competition, the league has decided on having two seasons, the first consisting of fall sports and being played from December 2020 to March 2021, and the second, a combination of both winter and spring sports, which is set to occur from March to June of 2021, with a few sports being shuffled with this change.
Following the California Interscholastic Federation’s guidance, the Blossom Valley Athletic League released a statement on Tuesday, Jul. 21 about the current plan on scheduling athletics, but since then there have been no updates.
“Due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, CIF moved all athletics to January 2021 and beyond,” the statement said. “Understandably, all BVAL schools and respective athletic teams will be under the strict guidance and health regulations of the County of Santa Clara and school districts. We all must understand the current situation and work to ensure the best and safest athletic experience of our student-athletes.”
Currently all decisions regarding athletics start on the state level with the CIF and the Central Coast Section, then move on to the league and finally to the school.
As in previous years, athletes were able to compete in winter and spring sports as they were happening at different times, and there are plans this year to allow athletes to play both so they don’t need to make a choice. Athletic director, Joe Berticevich has concerns about players missing certain practices for another, but understands how these rule changes will come into play this season.
“There is a bylaw now that they can play both,” Berticevich said. “This year, obviously the flexibility will be there for student athletes to have the opportunity to play two sports if it fits and the coaches agree.”
Although there is the option to participate in two sports now, some athletes feel that this is impractical with their schedule. Avery Barnett, 12, played both soccer and lacrosse which are now set to take place in season two, and has been feeling the effect that this has had on her senior year.
“I love both soccer and lacrosse but I’m most likely only going to be playing lacrosse this year. I have developed a love for it, and being in two sports at once would be too much for my chaotic schedule,” Barnett said.
Girls and boys volleyball are now both set to take place in the first season, and the coaches are having to come up with a plan to help instruct the players while both teams are in session. Head coach Tony Lien is waiting to make final decisions, but has been working on managing the schedules of having both take place at once, while also ensuring that all the athletes and coaches can remain safe once sports restart.
“The plan right now is to split the staff that has been coaching with me for the last few years to accommodate for the merging of seasons and the number of teams now in one season. Details as to who will be coaching what team will be determined later after a discussion with the entire staff as to what is best for the volleyball program as a whole,” Lien said. “This is the first major pandemic that everyone is living through and we are just now grasping any understanding of its nature. The health and safety of my staff and our players will always be my number one concern.”
Although teams cannot practice together as usual, players have continued to make an effort to stay in shape and prepare to return to football when it is allowed. Brenden Given, 12, has been working with his football teammates to ensure that they will be competitive when games can resume.
“During the summer we had focused on footwork and keeping in shape with field workouts,” Given said. “As the uncertainty grew, with the seasons being delayed later and later, and school’s start, we started to focus more on drills and trying to keep people having fun.”
While it is still tentative when sports will restart, the current date being set as Monday, Dec. 14th, athletes are hoping that they will be able to return to their respective sports, especially seniors who are hoping to be able to compete in their final year at Pioneer.
“Sports have always helped me get through my hard school days, so it’s been tough not having them to look forward to,” Barnett said. “I’ve always been excited for my senior year sports and it has been stressful not knowing if I will be able to participate.”
With a shorter amount of time that can be used for competition, the league has decided on having two seasons, the first consisting of fall sports and being played from December 2020 to March 2021, and the second, a combination of both winter and spring sports, which is set to occur from March to June of 2021, with a few sports being shuffled with this change.
Following the California Interscholastic Federation’s guidance, the Blossom Valley Athletic League released a statement on Tuesday, Jul. 21 about the current plan on scheduling athletics, but since then there have been no updates.
“Due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, CIF moved all athletics to January 2021 and beyond,” the statement said. “Understandably, all BVAL schools and respective athletic teams will be under the strict guidance and health regulations of the County of Santa Clara and school districts. We all must understand the current situation and work to ensure the best and safest athletic experience of our student-athletes.”
Currently all decisions regarding athletics start on the state level with the CIF and the Central Coast Section, then move on to the league and finally to the school.
As in previous years, athletes were able to compete in winter and spring sports as they were happening at different times, and there are plans this year to allow athletes to play both so they don’t need to make a choice. Athletic director, Joe Berticevich has concerns about players missing certain practices for another, but understands how these rule changes will come into play this season.
“There is a bylaw now that they can play both,” Berticevich said. “This year, obviously the flexibility will be there for student athletes to have the opportunity to play two sports if it fits and the coaches agree.”
Although there is the option to participate in two sports now, some athletes feel that this is impractical with their schedule. Avery Barnett, 12, played both soccer and lacrosse which are now set to take place in season two, and has been feeling the effect that this has had on her senior year.
“I love both soccer and lacrosse but I’m most likely only going to be playing lacrosse this year. I have developed a love for it, and being in two sports at once would be too much for my chaotic schedule,” Barnett said.
Girls and boys volleyball are now both set to take place in the first season, and the coaches are having to come up with a plan to help instruct the players while both teams are in session. Head coach Tony Lien is waiting to make final decisions, but has been working on managing the schedules of having both take place at once, while also ensuring that all the athletes and coaches can remain safe once sports restart.
“The plan right now is to split the staff that has been coaching with me for the last few years to accommodate for the merging of seasons and the number of teams now in one season. Details as to who will be coaching what team will be determined later after a discussion with the entire staff as to what is best for the volleyball program as a whole,” Lien said. “This is the first major pandemic that everyone is living through and we are just now grasping any understanding of its nature. The health and safety of my staff and our players will always be my number one concern.”
Although teams cannot practice together as usual, players have continued to make an effort to stay in shape and prepare to return to football when it is allowed. Brenden Given, 12, has been working with his football teammates to ensure that they will be competitive when games can resume.
“During the summer we had focused on footwork and keeping in shape with field workouts,” Given said. “As the uncertainty grew, with the seasons being delayed later and later, and school’s start, we started to focus more on drills and trying to keep people having fun.”
While it is still tentative when sports will restart, the current date being set as Monday, Dec. 14th, athletes are hoping that they will be able to return to their respective sports, especially seniors who are hoping to be able to compete in their final year at Pioneer.
“Sports have always helped me get through my hard school days, so it’s been tough not having them to look forward to,” Barnett said. “I’ve always been excited for my senior year sports and it has been stressful not knowing if I will be able to participate.”