If not for the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, Gilmer High School would be in the midst of its second week of spring football practice.
Under normal circumstances, fans in purple and white would gather at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium Friday for the Bobcats’ annual scrimmage.
The Times-Courier interviewed GHS head coach Kevin Saunders Monday to discuss the Bobcats’ preseason preparations, which have been unlike anything anyone has experienced.
“I’ve been coaching a long time, and I’ve never been in a situation like this whatsoever,” Saunders said. “I’ve coached (in seasons) where you don’t have spring practice, and a long time ago, we didn’t have all the seven-on-seven stuff over the summer, but we were still around the kids. That’s the main thing. We’re just not around them at all.”
He added, “Not being around the coaches and players has been the most challenging. I’m very hands on as far as talking to them every day. Not being around the kids, coaches, faculty and the school setting ... I miss that.”
When schools closed March 16, all athletic activities were suspended. The clapping of shoulder pads, coaches barking orders and players doing their best to keep pace have been replaced by online meetings and workouts.
“What we’ve been doing is we’ve had some team meetings where I’ve met with the kids virtually online,” Saunders said. “We’ve used Google Classroom and have had two (full) team meetings so far.”
Meetings have not been limited to simple conversations. Position coaches are implementing the same procedures as they would if able to meet normally.
“We’ve been doing position meetings and instillation of offense, defense and the kicking game all online,” Saunders said. “Each position coach makes a presentation and they go through all the steps and everything. Everything is diagrammed and there so the players can see it. We use old film from this past year, practice tape and diagrams just like you would to draw it up with Xs and Os.”
While everyone has made the best of the situation, there have been hurdles.
“The majority of the kids are there, but we’ve got some who don’t have the internet,” Saunders said. “We’ve got kids that work, and their employers have let them take a break so they can get on their phones and attend meetings so they know what’s going on. We’re doing the best we can with it. Some of them haven’t even seen their friends this whole time. It’s been crazy.”
Aside from online instruction, strength and speed training has been a key component as players have received workout plans regularly. These are workouts players do on their own based on what they have at their disposal.
“(Strength and condition coach) Adam (Wharton) sends them a workout every week and they have to follow it,” Saunders said. “There are different workouts and it changes all the time.
“He gears the workouts based on if players can get to a gym or work out at home. A lot of kids have weights at home, and a lot of kids go to Anytime Fitness and video what they’re doing and send it in. Some have been going to the park to throw the football.”
Because schools are closed, players are not permitted to workout or train on school grounds during the pandemic. Nor can workouts take place with coaches present. Players without home equipment have been able to use a local gym.
“Anytime Fitness has been great letting the kids come and work out following all of the COVID-19 guidelines,” Saunders said. “He (owner Justin Moulton) has worked a good deal out for them and our program, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of that.
“I’m not as worried as much about our scheme and installation of our stuff as I am about the condition of the players both physically and mentally. For some kids, the best place for them to be every day is at school. I’m sure some of them have been sleeping until noon and staying up all night.”
In a May 6 press release, Georgia High School Association executive director Robin Hines noted a possible return training activities next month.
“I am in the process of gathering as much information as possible to narrow down a date that we may be able to begin some type of face-to-face work with our student athletes,” Hines said. “We will be looking at local, state and national information to attempt to make the best decision going forward. I am hopeful that we can implement a measured return to training with guidance in June.
“All of the information needed to make such a decision is not available but we are working toward this goal. Social distancing, reduced numbers of athletes and coaches per session, disinfecting facilities as well as standard hygiene practices will certainly be a part of any return to sport training.”
For the time being, Saunders plans to continue with online meetings and instruction. He is confident football will return in some form this fall.
“I just do not see them (GHSA) not having football,” Saunders said. “It’s too important to the culture of the south and too important to the state of Georgia. Financially, it’s just too important, period. Schools depend on this money. I don’t know if anyone really knows what’s going on. You read one thing then turnaround and read something else.
“It’s confusing for the kids. I get texts from them all the time asking if they’re going to miss out on their senior season. Those things really bother them. I’m confident there will be some type of football season. Exactly how, I don’t know.”