High school athletes around the state were able to experience a bit of normalcy last week.
For the first time since classes dismissed March 13 because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, players and coaches were able to meet in an official capacity on school grounds.
The Georgia High School Association permitted member schools to begin voluntary summer conditioning June 1 with heavy precautionary protocols in place.
Sports are still prohibited from conducting full-scale practices with balls and equipment. For Gilmer High football, cheerleading, basketball and wrestling, athletes have spent their time running and lifting weights.
HS football meets five days per week with time split between the weight room and on-field conditioning. Head coach Kevin Saunders noted a total of 55 players attended workouts through the first week.
“It’s good to be back around the kids, and our administration has done a great job of organizing everything,” Saunders said. “They’ve done a great job of getting our kids ready. With them having the opportunity to work out, it was just a really good week and the kids were excited.
“I think we only had two kids miss all week and that was for a doctor’s appointment. It was good for the coaches too just to try to get stuff started back.”
Competition cheerleaders are meeting twice weekly with regular attendance around 16 participants.
“The attitude has been great and the girls are excited to be back together, and I was super excited to have them back,” said coach Naomi Esparza. “Not having our normal spring conditioning has been tough. That’s where we do a lot of our team building and situational stuff. It’s been nice to have everyone back to together. The girls are excited and ready to get back at it.”
Cheerleaders are unable to work on their upcoming routine, which means no tumbling, stunting or choreography
“We’re doing some strength training and some cardio sessions,” Esparza said. “We can’t really get them on the mat for any type of stunting or tumbling or anything like that. That’s been an adjustment because that’s what the girls like to jump right into. So we’re just trying to build those foundational skills that we haven’t really gotten to work on since March.”
Wrestling and basketball have a bit more time at their disposal before their winter seasons begin in November.
Bobcat and Lady Cat wrestlers have convened three days per week and 25 have made their way to workouts.
“It’s been great and I feel like they’re excited about being back,” coach Josh Ghobadpoor said. “The conditioning factor isn’t that big for us because we’re a ways away from the wrestling season. We hope to get them back to normal condition because a lot of them haven’t been able to do a whole lot. Stacy Galloway will be helping me this year. He’s been working with the girls and I’ve been working with the guys.”
As with the other sports, wrestlers have not been able to drill or partake in live wrestling. For a sport that is a one-on-one physical encounter, the Bobcats have instead practiced social distancing.
“It’s just lifting now and we’re trying to get as much out of it as possible,” Ghobadpoor said. “We’re trying to get in full-body workouts and really working all the muscle groups.”
Boys basketball coach Jordan Hice noted his players want to play, and that focusing on running and lifting weights has been difficult as their season is five months away. They are meeting four days per week during June.
“They were excited. They were glad to be back and wishing we were doing basketball stuff,” Hice said.
“That’s pretty much all I heard was, ‘When are we going to play basketball?’ They’re happy to be back but would just rather be playing instead of just weights and conditioning.”
While players may not have been keen on conditioning activities, Hice knows they needed it.
“You could tell the kids haven’t done much for the past four months,” he said.
“The condition was down, their strength was down and the motivation level was down. We didn’t go too hard the first two days then picked it up on the third day. We had a talk about having that mentality and staying motivated. Even though it’s not basketball, it’s going to help us.”
Conditioning groups were previously limited 20, which includes both players and coaches. The GHSA increased that number to 25, but the five extra athletes can only be new participants. Athletes are still prohibited from switching work out groups.