Despite high humidity and 90-degree temperatures, local athletes took to the gym and practice field this week to resume a semblance of normalcy with summer workouts.
Monday and Tuesday felt like Christmas in July for area athletes and coaches, as teams returned to their respective schools to commence in-person practices for the 2020 fall sports season.
July 6 was the date chosen by the IHSAA and Indiana Department of Education as the day teams could begin Phase 1 of group workouts, but some teams waited until Tuesday to get started.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, practices looked a little different to start the summer.
In Phase 1, which extends through next week, coaches must wear masks at all times during the training sessions. Athletes also have to wear masks, but can take them off when they are doing strenuous exercise.
Live practices marked the end of weekly Zoom meetings and at-home workouts for the teens — a welcome change, especially for multi-sport athletes who missed out on the entire spring season.
The Columbus North boys cross country team kicked off the return of high school sports by holding its annual Midnight Madness workout on the track, and practice facilities were being used across most schools on Monday.
Sanitization and social distancing efforts were led by coaches and players across multiple sports at Columbus East and Columbus North high schools.
As soon as players arrived, the coaches asked their players COVID-19 related screening questions and took their temperatures before allowing them to participate in practice. Wipes were used on all shared equipment, and mask rules were strictly enforced when necessary.
North head football coach Tim Bless said his staff "eased (the players) into (practice) by design because when you think about this, this is uncharted territory."
Bless’ approach is the right one, as he knows that on top of the challenges a new season presents teams are also at the mercy of a virus they can’t see. One slip-up could spell disaster for not only his team, but the others in the school.
The return of athletics will prove a much-needed physical and mental health booth for student-athletes. Routine, and a sense of normalcy, is something that some students have lacked over the past few months.
While policies change by the day with the virus, it’s uplifting that the youth in the community have athletics as an outlet again. Our hope is that the plans outlined by the state will help the teams stay on course for the season, and that all teams will stay safe and healthy.
