COVID CAN’T SIDELINE SPORTS Both indoor and outdoor practices abide by CDC guidelines Addison Mark | Staff Reporter
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Senior Laura Roskein spikes the ball in the Sept.15 game against Ponte Vedra.
Photos by Meghan Williamson
veryday activities seem now to be more of a hassle, thanks to COVID-19. We walk out of the house, put on a mask and try to social distance from those around us. But how do sports teams tackle social distancing? Bishop Kenny has acknowledged the need to take precautions towards all sports practices this year in order to keep the team, the school and the community-at large safe. Sophomore Molly Vought is a junior varsity volleyball player who has been playing for Bishop Kenny for two years. Players are required to social distance, Vought says, since the gym is not an openair facility. “It’s really difficult to do that since volleyball is a sport where all of the team members have to crowd around each other,” Vought said. The volleyball team can no longer huddle together anymore and they have to maintain six feet distance during practice. “It is definitely a challenge, and it is very time consuming with the amount of things we have to clean, including all of the balls,” Vought said. To avoid spread of the virus, players get temperature checks and are required to fill out a health questionnaire before each game. “The team and I are all taking this seriously and will abide by the rules so our season won’t be ruined,” Vought said. When teams must travel to away games, extra busses are needed because fewer players can fit in each bus and properly distance themselves. They also have to leave earlier than they normally would because
Sophomore Price Watson rushes toward the goal line for a touchdown in the Oct. 8 game against Orange Park.
they do not have access to locker rooms and therefore have to stay on the field the entire game. “I know that everyone is taking good precautions to keep everyone safe, so I’m not too nervous about getting in contact with other teams,” Vought said. The Florida High School Athletic Association, or FHSAA, enforces rules that allow players to have space to spread out and not crowd
together on the sidelines, wearing masks whenever possible and sanitizing all equipment. “[Players must] promote the spirit of sportsmanship and fair play in all athletic contests and enact policies and guidelines that safeguard the physical, mental and moral welfare of high school students and protect them from exploitation,” according to the FHSAA website. Outdoor sports such
as football have their own guidelines to abide by. Assistant coach Timothy Duclos says that football players and coaches all have to wear masks before and after practices. The team also has to stay distanced when they take water breaks. “I’m not nervous,” Duclos said. “I think we have to do our best to follow the guidelines and practices that have been established to keep our players and coaches safe.”
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