‘It was like Christmas morning.’ Texas high school athletes back together after layoff.
Texas high school sports are back.
Almost.
The University Interscholastic League took the first step to bringing back sports as thousands of student-athletes across the state began summer strength and conditioning programs on Monday.
School and sports had been shut down since the middle of March due to the novel coronavirus.
Teams working outdoors were required by the UIL to stay at least 6 feet apart to practice social distancing. Each player had to pass a pre-screening test, fill out a UIL medical form online and bring their own water bottle.
Athletes in the Arlington school district had their temperatures taken during check-in, which started at 5:45 a.m. The Arlington High football team will work out Monday through Friday and temperature checks will occur daily.
“AISD spent the past month focused on the safety of our kids,” Arlington football coach Scott Peach said. “They checked in 45 minutes beforehand. It was really important we did things right. They didn’t get through the gate without all the requirements.
“We’re setting the tone for the state and for the country in terms of having the opportunity of moving forward.”
Any other year and Peach would have nearly 400 high school and junior high football players on the first day of summer. With junior high still not starting, Peach had 130 players Monday.
“Ready to get back to work,” rising senior Kris Sims said. “This is really important. We missed a full off-season and it stinks for recruiting and getting ready for the next season. We’ll be OK. We have a great coaching staff and group of leaders.”
Along with volleyball, Arlington began with 150 athletes spanning three fields during its morning session.
“If you had asked me two months ago if we’d get the opportunity to come back this summer and have a chance to play football, I would’ve said it’s up in the air,” Peach said. “This is a great first step of sports coming back and I’m proud of the UIL for giving us that chance.
“We missed our kids and we’re extremely excited to have a piece of Texas high school football back.”
Christmas in Texas
On the volleyball court, Burleson began the summer indoors at 25% capacity.
“We felt confident in the UIL protocol and in our staff and coaches that we could maintain a healthy environment for our kids,” said Burleson ISD athletic director Kevin Ozee. “It was a whole team effort and the coaches coordinated it where we could be flexible and allow skills practice inside.”
Coach D’Anna Newton said her team will practice Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
“It was like Christmas morning waking up today, knowing that it’s here and we actually get to do something,” Newton said. “It’s been a long time coming and I think the hour we spent together was very beneficial.”
Players were separated into groups of 10 and each group was assigned its own ball cart.
Each group was socially distanced at 10 feet, per UIL guidelines.
“The hard part was making sure each group had their own ball cart, but the girls did it seamlessly so I’m really excited for the summer that we’ll be able to have together,” Newton said.
“We can’t really do any competitive stuff, but it’s cool that we’re able to work on the small things and fundamentals, and being ready when tryouts start,” rising senior Mia Smalls added.
Weatherford football coach Billy Mathis was like a kid on Christmas Eve. He didn’t get much sleep because of the anticipation of Monday’s practice.
He was up bright and early as the Kangaroos started at 6:30 a.m.
“It was that feeling you get when you see your family again,” Mathis said. “It was so great just being up here again, seeing how excited the players were to get up here and work out together again.”
Most football teams elected to stay outside for the first day.
Any weight training indoors must be at 25% capacity and weights will be disinfected after every use.
Mathis said that his players had been staying in shape during the past three months, and with the way things are trending, the football season will start on time.
“The way Gov. Abbott is reopening the state, if everybody everywhere will do their part and follow all the rules, I believe we can start on time,” he said. “We have to do our part, though.”
Same face, New place
Burleson football also began workouts Monday with new coach Jon Kitna.
Kitna, who was hired on March 9, is a former NFL quarterback and Dallas Cowboys assistant.
“I think they looked good,” Kitna said. “It’s been three months and they really haven’t done anything, so we’re going to go really slow with them.”
Kitna said there was no excuse for the players to return in bad shape, considering the coaching staff emailed them workout plans for 10 straight weeks.
Rising senior Jarrett Austin said he worked out twice a day during the quarantine.
“It feels good to be back with the team and the boys. I’ve been waiting on it the whole spring,” Austin said. “Coach Kitna is great. He cares about the kids and at the end of the day he just wants to see us succeed.”
“We are dealing with kids and we are responsible for them,” Kitna added.
The players are required to fill out a pre-screening sheet at the start of each week. They also are asked to take their temperature each day from home. Thermometers are available at the school in case they forget.
Gregory George isn’t new to Mansfield, but his job title has changed.
George was promoted to head football coach in April. He had been offensive coordinator and interim head coach for Daniel Maberry, who passed away from cancer in February.
On Monday, Mansfield saw a boost in participants across the board.
“Much better than expected. It’s the most kids that we’ve ever had come out for summer sessions for all sports, by quite a bit, even with limited space,” George said. “We’ve seen probably 60 more kids than we’ve ever had.
“It’s good to see all the kids. I’ve seen several around town over the last couple of months, but it’s good to be able to see them all together. We’re a team and not only that, but as human beings we’re social and this quarantine has been difficult for a lot of people in a lot of different ways.”
The Tigers also practiced good social distancing, which is difficult for the players who are used to being around and high-fiving teammates.
“It’s so hard. It’s just so different and such a learning curve,” rising senior Cole Hardin said. “And that’s what these first few days are really for. We get some work out of it, but it’s just a big learning curve as to how we’re going to get stuff done throughout the summer and how it’s going to be.
“Eventually we should be able to get into a rhythm and get efficiently working out real well.”
State Champs
Aledo football coach Tim Buchanan was all smiles as he looked around at the many athletes who were once again working out together.
“It’s the best morning I’ve had since the first week of March,” said the man who has coached the Bearcats to six state championships. “It was more of an orientation this morning. We did a little bit of running, but everybody looked really good.”
Buchanan said he received numerous videos from players showing they were working out on their own during quarantine. His staff also did a good job communicating with players via Zoom.
“As a whole it was a success,” Buchanan said. “The coaches did an unbelievable job of communicating with our kids. We did a good job of keeping kids working. The hardest part was not seeing the kids.”
School districts in Keller, Carroll and Mansfield also started on Monday.
However, it doesn’t mean every sport has begun. Fall season gets first priority, but basketball teams in Arlington and Burleson also got in their workouts; a few soccer teams as well.
The Fort Worth school district has elected to start all athletic activity on June 15.
But for at least one day, it’s good to be back.
This story was originally published June 9, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
