Abbie Dymond, Sports Editor
@abbiedcourant
With a late start to the season, mandated mask wearing, and no spectators in the stands, student athletes had a far from normal fall season last year. However, with the high vaccination rates in New Canaan, the athletic department has lifted many restrictions, even allowing spectators back into the stands.
“The regulations on spectators have been lifted and the regulations on travel outside of a small geographic proximity have been lifted,” athletic director Jay Egan said. In the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC), there are 17 teams, however to prevent cross contamination between towns, New Canaan only played 5 of these teams that were within a small radius from New Canaan. “Last year we were playing in small groups and playing the teams multiple times. This year our schedule is back to what the normal state and FCIAC schedules would be.”
Notably, the main thing that has stayed the same from last year is the requirement to wear masks in indoor spaces. Volleyball players, due to their indoor venue, still have to wear masks. Masks are also still required to be worn on travel busses and in the newly reopened locker rooms.
Students and coaches alike are looking forward to being able to play all the teams in the FCIAC conference this year and having a more varied level of competition. “I am excited for a full schedule, and I think it is the same for all the players and coaches in the FCIAC,” varsity boys soccer coach Luke Green said.“This year we’re able to play against every team in the conference, whereas last year, we were only allowed to play in small pods to prevent crossover contamination between teams and towns.”
“I think that everyone has a stronger bond, they know everybody, and the connections between the program really give the program a good identity, which was lacking a bit last year due to the restrictions.” Coach Green said.
“One of the biggest benefits will be team dinners because it is a way for the team to regroup after practice and have some fun before our game the next day,” Varsity field hockey team co-captain, Zoey Bennett said “It also just allows us to spend more time together in general, which makes us all a lot closer.”
Perhaps best of all though, school spirit has returned to the stands. “There was a field hockey game last week, and when the football team finished practice, a lot of the players came to watch,” Jay Egan said. “It’s part of the excitement of the game, the school culture. It’s getting back to what people look forward to: having people cheering in the stands.”
