Sports competitions have been at a halt at NCC due to COVID-19. With no set answer if athletes will actually get to compete this year, it leaves many wondering “what’s next?” Having to adjust to the new norm, athletes are taking on COVID-19 in stride.
On Mar. 12, the NCAA announced the cancellation of last seasons’ winter and spring sport championship events. NCC followed them by canceling all competitions, practices and activities.
Later on, before the beginning of the new school year, the NCAA announced the cancellation of championships in fall sports for the 2020-21 season instead of pushing it to spring. The NCAA hasn’t made an announcement to confirm competition for the spring.
“There’s so much uncertainty about whether we’ll still be playing next month or even next week,” said women’s volleyball player Reagan Raymer, ’21.
Athletes have been allowed to practice but there are certain safety precautions they follow. This include wearing a face mask, testing regularly for COVID-19 and temperature checks. Many teams have split into smaller groups to avoid large gatherings.
“In the beginning, we were split up into pods and could only practice with people in our group,” said women’s basketball player Haydn Braun, ’21. “This was hard because we could only do certain drills that didn’t involve the whole team.”
They have now moved into practicing together as an entire group.
Impact on team bonding
With the adjustments, most student-athletes agree that the hardest part to adjust to is wearing masks. Masks have proven to be difficult to use when practicing. “Doing drills and working out in a mask took a lot of getting used to and we still aren’t all the way adjusted to it,” said Braun.
Although COVID-19 has forced athletes to social distance, it has not impacted their team’s bond. “We’re all going through this uncertain and crazy time together, struggling through wearing masks at practice and getting COVID testing, and I think we can all relate to each other really well in that sense,” said Raymer.
Teams have not been able to host their usual team bonding gatherings and have gotten creative when they are together. “Our coaches try to implement some fun activities into our practices, like sand volleyball, Just Dance and we even did a scavenger hunt,” said Raymer.
Although teams can’t play official games, the athletes rely on each other and practices to stay ready. Scrimmages against their own teammates have been the only games they play. “Playing against each other has helped us keep that competitive edge and has helped us with team chemistry as well,” said Braun.
For many athletes, the uncertainty of playing this season means an end to their college career. “For the seniors who have put all of this time into it, it’s really hard to hear you may not get a season,” said women’s basketball player Page Desenberg, ’21.
COVID-19 may have put a stop to their season for the time being but it’s not stopping the athletes.
“We are still hoping to have a little bit of a season later in the year, so the possibility and hope of being able to compete in games have kept us ‘game ready,'” said Braun.
