From the sidelines
By Marty Gordon
No one knows what “normal” is any more, especially when it comes to athletics, school and extracurricular activities. I have been torn for weeks wanting sporting events back while also worrying what COVID-19 still has up its sleeve.
Will we rush everything back too soon? Will we have high numbers of new cases?
It’s hard to predict and decide precautions we need to take or continue to take.
We in the sports world are scratching our heads trying to figure this all out.
Let’s be honest. No one knows how COVID-19 will react when youngsters go back to school. But it is my opinion that if they do go back to school, they will need some type of normalcy. Again, things will not be normal, and we should expect that. I’m sorry to even bring that up, but that’s what we’re dealing with for the next six months and maybe longer.
Here are my observations:
Schools will have to forget the Virginia High School League classifications we have gotten used to. In the case of Christiansburg and Blacksburg, we should expect them to play each other more this year and maybe even pick up contests with county schools like Eastern Montgomery and Auburn. And I’m talking about more than once in a season to cut down on travel. Also, parents should expect to take their student-athletes to those away contests.
Each school and school system will have to step up to the plate and require its staff to do things they may never have thought about especially when it comes to sanitizing. This could mean a need for volunteers like never before.
Radio broadcasts of ball games and contests will become very important.
Some sports might g -away because of the increased need to eliminate “shared” items like balls.
The use of gloves will become very important in every sport.
Face coverings that have been used in NASCAR and other auto racing circuits for a number of years will become the norm for all sports.
There will never ever again be handshakes or high fives before or after ball games.
Sanitizing solutions will be in short supply because athletics will need a lot of it.
Student-athletes will have a problem in gaining attention from college scouts and coaches. Those individuals will have to depend on tape of each one of the recruits.
In these observations, I am thinking only about high school. There is a whole different scenario for college and recreation sports.
Of course, a lot of people are wondering about Virginia Tech football. The coronavirus pandemic will change Lane Stadium like we would never have expected.
Two things have to take place. Fans must feel safe to come to the football game, and administrators must find a way to “redesign” game day.
There will no longer be a distinct home field advantage with a large and rowdy crowd. That large crowd is out.
Planners will have to eliminate touch points, and there are plenty of them when it comes to a home football game. Everything that can be touched will have to be limited, and in many cases eliminated.
In addition, lots of people will be needed to clean and sanitize constantly during each game.
The university will have to put a cap on attendance, meaning current ticket holders will have to expect changes. With that cap, the university will be facing a major financial setback.
Lane Stadium is designed to be full on game day, but it cannot happen at least for the short-term.
For recreation sports, organizers are in a major holding pattern. I feel sorry for kids under the age of 10 who have not seen many activities for the past three months and will not see any for the next three months. Hopefully, a solution can be found, or we will take 20 steps backwards in providing physical activity for those youngsters.
Sports will never be the same.