Spring Sports Scrapped After Coronavirus Closure
By Katherine Rowe
By Katherine Rowe
With the county-wide school closures in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Blossom Valley Athletic League cancelled the remainder of the spring sports season, disappointing many athletes who had been working hard to compete in their respective sports.
In their “Coronavirus Announcement” on Wednesday, March 25, the league explained their decision behind cancelling the rest of the spring sports’ season at this time.
“Due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, the BVAL Executive Committee has made the determination that the best course of action for all student-athletes, coaches, administrators, parents and spectators is to CANCEL the remainder of the Spring Sports season,” the league said. “We all must understand the current situation and work to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
After its first season as a new team on campus, STUNT was able to compete in two games against Branham and Sequoia before COVID-19. Brenna Gallagher, 10, who worked to start the team, was disappointed that the season ended early, but glad they got the chance to compete and connect with each other.
“Given that it was our first season, I was hoping that we would all be able to form a genuine team bond, since we may not have all known each other coming in, and we did despite age differences, which I'm so happy about,” Gallagher said. “We had just started getting into our rhythm with the games and strategies we could have possibly used, so it’s unfortunate we never actually got to put those into play.”
Caitlin Yem, 12, had been looking forward to playing lacrosse in her final year of high school before spring sports had been cancelled and also feels that missing this season will have an effect on the teams next year.
“I was completely devastated when I found out the season was going to be cancelled,” Yem said. “Also, cancelling the season has taken away a year of experience for all players, so players might have to work extra hard next season.”
In their Distance Learning Guidelines, San José Unified School District explained how physical education credits would be distributed for athletes as well.
“Students who were selected for a school team prior to March 13 will receive credit for that sport,” SJUSD said.
Although disappointed that his season was cut short, Kellen Neff, 11, felt that cancelling it was a necessary measure that was taken to protect the athletes.
“I was hoping to have some fun and win some games, which I was able to do, though not to the extent of a regular season,” Neff said. “I don't think there could have been an alternative to this. Missing one season of a sport is less important than the safety of the coaches and the players.”
In their “Coronavirus Announcement” on Wednesday, March 25, the league explained their decision behind cancelling the rest of the spring sports’ season at this time.
“Due to the ongoing pandemic of COVID-19, the BVAL Executive Committee has made the determination that the best course of action for all student-athletes, coaches, administrators, parents and spectators is to CANCEL the remainder of the Spring Sports season,” the league said. “We all must understand the current situation and work to ensure the safety of everyone involved.”
After its first season as a new team on campus, STUNT was able to compete in two games against Branham and Sequoia before COVID-19. Brenna Gallagher, 10, who worked to start the team, was disappointed that the season ended early, but glad they got the chance to compete and connect with each other.
“Given that it was our first season, I was hoping that we would all be able to form a genuine team bond, since we may not have all known each other coming in, and we did despite age differences, which I'm so happy about,” Gallagher said. “We had just started getting into our rhythm with the games and strategies we could have possibly used, so it’s unfortunate we never actually got to put those into play.”
Caitlin Yem, 12, had been looking forward to playing lacrosse in her final year of high school before spring sports had been cancelled and also feels that missing this season will have an effect on the teams next year.
“I was completely devastated when I found out the season was going to be cancelled,” Yem said. “Also, cancelling the season has taken away a year of experience for all players, so players might have to work extra hard next season.”
In their Distance Learning Guidelines, San José Unified School District explained how physical education credits would be distributed for athletes as well.
“Students who were selected for a school team prior to March 13 will receive credit for that sport,” SJUSD said.
Although disappointed that his season was cut short, Kellen Neff, 11, felt that cancelling it was a necessary measure that was taken to protect the athletes.
“I was hoping to have some fun and win some games, which I was able to do, though not to the extent of a regular season,” Neff said. “I don't think there could have been an alternative to this. Missing one season of a sport is less important than the safety of the coaches and the players.”