Jack Jensen, Reporter
@jackjensencourant
High school athletics have been forever changed due to the ongoing pandemic, and sadly that has been no different at NCHS. With COVID-19 at its worst in the spring of 2020, last year’s spring season was cancelled completely. But this year will be different. In mid-April, for the first time since the fall of 2019, there will be a full athletic season throughout the state of Connecticut, including state tournaments.
Athletic Director Jay Egan is confident in how the spring season will unfold. Starting with the use of masks, Mr. Egan described the meticulously crafted protocols for the upcoming season. “Masks will only have to be worn in the dugout in baseball or on the sideline in lacrosse,” he said. “The only time you have to wear a mask is when you play is inside, so that only pertains to boys volleyball as far as having to wear masks.”
When asked about the possibility of fan attendance, Mr. Egan remained confident. “The question is going to be how many people can we have in the stadium for spring sports,” he said. “It’s up to the local authorities with respect to how many people are going to be allowed and what percentage capacity. But we’re really excited to have fans back at our games.”
Due to ongoing COVID-19 protocols in Connecticut, high preparations are required for planning the season, despite the current plateau in cases, “We have protocols and as far as we’re concerned every athlete is following them. We’re very optimistic about where we’re going to be working, especially after the vaccine,” said Mr. Egan. “Last year, they didn’t have a season at all– not even a modified one — so we know that they’re going to do all the things in their power to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on their season this year.”
A full season is no promise this year and girls’ lacrosse coach Kristen Woods knows this better than anyone. She’ll have her work cut out for her as she prepares to see a whole new roster since the one she last coached in the spring of 2019.
“Not having a season last year is going to be challenging when it comes to tryouts because I basically haven’t seen more than half the program before,” Woods said. “We have a 16 game schedule and play Darien twice and Glastonbury, Cheshire, and Hand which are added games and Greenwich, that’s an added game that’s not on our FCIAC schedule, so it should be a competition and we’re hopeful to get all the games in.”
Despite the lower COVID-19 numbers throughout Connecticut, the CDC guidelines will still be in effect in order to keep the players and coaches safe, limiting the amount of exposure per team. “In my opinion, I believe the people on the sidelines should wear masks and the people in the game can play with no masks on,” Woods said.
New Canaan is preparing for the first full season of spring sports in over two years! With a return to normalcy FCIAC championships will be held in May as teams from across Connecticut battle for championships as we are slowly but surely signaling the end of the pandemic.
