Dealing with the new reality

[bignose]

We were just notified that Maryland's public schools will be shut down until at least April 25, due to COVID-19.
Virginia has shut their schools down for the rest of the academic year.


The entire Spring Sport schedule has been canceled.
7-on-7 games, which would start after Memorial Day, is not going to happen this year.

The Big 33 Game between Pennsylvania and Maryland is not going to take place this year.

We haven't heard about summer workouts, but it doesn't look good.

These are prudent steps to take in light of the serious contagion levels this virus is associated with, especially in metropolitan area.

Anybody want to share their concerns, vent or rages?

[dragons09]

I am out West here in Arizona. We had to adjust the opponents we'd usually put on our game schedule because of the decisions California is making. They are considering pushing back their Football season to the winter or spring. We typically play 2-4 California teams a year because our city is right on the Arizona-California border.

We have not had any spring practices either, we haven't even met with our kids yet. I am concerned about what impact this will have overall.

[shocktroop34]

Here in Maryland as well. I just asked my AD what his gut feeling was about the fall. He didn't even blink, "we're not having fall sports." He's been an AD for quite a while. The lack of hesitation in his response was disheartening.

He said we may have have some sports (e.g. Cross Country) but he didn't see football in the equation.

I have also heard a rumor that's picking up traction, at least in my local area, that we will report in person to school, and go straight through to Thanksgiving. We would then go online until the spring. And then return to finish out the school year.

The Thanksgiving "pause" would be to avoid the second wave of Covid-19 that will apparently sprout again around that time.

Obviously, as they are still rumors, I haven't said anything to the players, yet. It's really hard to plan things and build up anticipation within the program knowing that it may all be in vain.

[Deleted]

Jun 10, 2020 11:51:54 GMT -6 shocktroop34 said:

Here in Maryland as well. I just asked my AD what his gut feeling was about the fall. He didn't even blink, "we're not having fall sports." He's been an AD for quite a while. The lack of hesitation in his response was disheartening.

He said we may have have some sports (e.g. Cross Country) but he didn't see football in the equation.

I have also heard a rumor that's picking up traction, at least in my local area, that we will report in person to school, and go straight through to Thanksgiving. We would then go online until the spring. And then return to finish out the school year.

The Thanksgiving "pause" would be to avoid the second wave of Covid-19 that will apparently sprout again around that time.

Obviously, as they are still rumors, I haven't said anything to the players, yet. It's really hard to plan things and build up anticipation within the program knowing that it may all be in vain.

Just with the restriction and insanity we are working now, no way, no how they are going to have athletics at all in my mind, especially if there is no crowds.

[shocktroop34]

Jun 10, 2020 20:53:43 GMT -6 @coachpithy said:

Jun 10, 2020 11:51:54 GMT -6 shocktroop34 said:

Here in Maryland as well. I just asked my AD what his gut feeling was about the fall. He didn't even blink, "we're not having fall sports." He's been an AD for quite a while. The lack of hesitation in his response was disheartening.

He said we may have have some sports (e.g. Cross Country) but he didn't see football in the equation.

I have also heard a rumor that's picking up traction, at least in my local area, that we will report in person to school, and go straight through to Thanksgiving. We would then go online until the spring. And then return to finish out the school year.

The Thanksgiving "pause" would be to avoid the second wave of Covid-19 that will apparently sprout again around that time.

Obviously, as they are still rumors, I haven't said anything to the players, yet. It's really hard to plan things and build up anticipation within the program knowing that it may all be in vain.

Just with the restriction and insanity we are working now, no way, no how they are going to have athletics at all in my mind, especially if there is no crowds.

That was my sentiment. And just yesterday, the Governor comes on and says that we can return to sports under the regulations of youth sports. Which is 9 players/ 1 coach in the weight room. 20 players on the field. 10 players for baseball. 

I'm so confused on the messages going out. I just don't see how they can justify having a full football season, but not a full fall semester. BTW, in our county ALL players have been deemed eligible based on access (or lack thereof) to technology. 

Such interesting times. 

[Deleted]

Jun 11, 2020 9:54:58 GMT -6 shocktroop34 said:

Jun 10, 2020 20:53:43 GMT -6 @coachpithy said:

Just with the restriction and insanity we are working now, no way, no how they are going to have athletics at all in my mind, especially if there is no crowds.

That was my sentiment. And just yesterday, the Governor comes on and says that we can return to sports under the regulations of youth sports. Which is 9 players/ 1 coach in the weight room. 20 players on the field. 10 players for baseball. 

I'm so confused on the messages going out. I just don't see how they can justify having a full football season, but not a full fall semester. BTW, in our county ALL players have been deemed eligible based on access (or lack thereof) to technology. 

Such interesting times. 

Just waiting for another shoe to drop...interesting profile pic!

[bignose]

The Maryland Governor and State Board of ED may have begun to open things up, but we received a lengthy directive from our school's AD explaining our Counties policies.

According to the County, we can not do anything, except have some very limited contact on the internet using County approved platforms.

No workouts, no meetings, no nothing.

Everything is on hold for the near future.

If we do get restarted, it will be like football in the 1960's. No summer practice, 3 days of acclimatization, a week of practice, no two -a-days, a scrimmage, and then a 9 week season. Gonna have to make things ultra simple.

[coachd5085]

Jun 11, 2020 19:20:21 GMT -6 bignose said:

The Maryland Governor and State Board of ED may have begun to open things up, but we received a lengthy directive from our school's AD explaining our Counties policies.

According to the County, we can not do anything, except have some very limited contact on the internet using County approved platforms.

No workouts, no meetings, no nothing.

Everything is on hold for the near future.

If we do get restarted, it will be like football in the 1960's. No summer practice, 3 days of acclimatization, a week of practice, no two -a-days, a scrimmage, and then a 9 week season. Gonna have to make things ultra simple.

Don't forget to factor in that at some point, SOMETHING will happen in the season.  Maybe your team has 2 players test positive.  Maybe your QB's sister tests positive, and now he has to self isolate.  Maybe the opponent for week 4 can't field a team because they had to many players who had to isolate. Maybe schools shut down again in late Sept.   SOMETHING. 

[wolverinesfootball]

Well the crazy new normal just hit us. Monday of this week our upcoming Friday night opponent calls to tell us the HC is getting tested. Tuesday morning they call to let us know he is positive and his team is shutdown. We scramble and find a new opponent Tuesday afternoon and scramble to get film, breakdowns everything done we normally do over the weekend. Then Thursday our opponent from the previous Friday night calls to tell us one of their players was positive and the local health department shuts us down. 3 schools in our county and we are the only one with no direct positive test and yet all 3 are shut down now for the next two weeks.