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An Inside Look at School Athletics During the Pandemic
C
OVID-19 has affected nearly every facet of the
time players or personnel were not actively playing,” says Boyd.
K-12 educational experience, and school sports
“Perhaps the biggest challenge related to COVID was keeping
programs are no exception. Despite the challenges,
everyone’s mental health up as much as possible.”
regional athletic departments have worked to make
The Gunston School was able to have some level of participation
the best of a difficult reality and learned valuable lessons along
in all three sports seasons, but Athletic Director Josh Breto says it
the way. Here’s a look at what the experience has been like for
wasn’t without adherence to the necessary safety precautions.
several Chesapeake-area schools and why they’re optimistic about upcoming seasons.
A Team Effort
Adjustments to the Game Plan
guidance, “all of our teams made it to the end, and I’m very proud
Keith Powell, Activities and Athletic Director at Patuxent High School, says the 2021 spring season kept the athletes and coaching staff on their toes as precautions and rules shifted almost constantly. There were “so many changes, and as soon as we got
Powell says that despite the uncertainties and changing of that. This accomplishment is due directly to the focus of our coaches and our athletes.” At Gunston, it was “communication, adaptability, and teamwork from our wonderful and dedicated coaches, student-athletes, and families were key in allowing for a safe and successful return to
comfortable with certain guidelines, new ones were given to us,”
athletics in all three seasons this year,” says Breto. “As a result,
he says.
being able to provide our graduating seniors and their families a
Key School’s Athletic Director Brian Boyd says the Obezags were able to complete most of the spring season, but with numerous precautions. “We certainly had to be mindful of COVID throughout the season, with more frequent cleaning, no shared water, and masks any
6 • BIG BOOK OF HEALTH 2022 • ChesapeakeFamily.com
spring season that felt relatively normal was hugely important to the school and we are all grateful for that.” Mindful of the need to strictly limit crowds at sporting events, the Key School athletic department established a new habit that it hopes to continue.
