High school sporting events return after coronavirus hiatus, with several new rules
After five months without an official high school sporting event due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, student-athletes this week have returned to volleyball courts across the state.
Play was allowed to begin Monday for Class 4A and below, and at least 10 matches were played around the state, according to MaxPreps. But the majority of Texas teams began their seasons Tuesday, including Argyle and Lake Worth who headed to Peaster High School for a triple-header.
Safety restrictions due to COVID-19 made the event anything other than your typical season opener.
Coaches, players and spectators wore masks. Hand sanitizers were placed at the end of each team’s bench. Bleachers were marked off to help families and groups apart. Multiple points of entry to Peaster’s gym were used to ensure social distancing.
Deena Tucker has three children in high school, including a freshman on Argyle’s junior varsity volleyball team. “Bleachers had lines across them so the school did a good job trying to keep people separated,” Tucker said. “We’re willing to do whatever it takes to get our kids on the court and field. This mask is no big deal. I can still come and sit and support, and I can still yell through this mask. They can still hear me.”
All high schools sports were abruptly canceled on March 13, during the middle of the boys state basketball state championship tournament in San Antonio. This was less than 48 hours after an NBA player had tested positive for COVID-19. What followed was an avalanche of sporting events — from international events to local competitions — being suspended, postponed or canceled.
In early June, the UIL approved workouts to begin, and eventually announced that fall seasons could begin on a staggered basis. For volleyball, Class 4A and below were allowed to begin fall practices on Aug. 3, however, Classes 6A and 5A cannot resume practices until Sept. 7. High school football is being delayed by several more weeks.
But the volleyball matches that returned earlier this week have offered a glimmer of hope.
“[The girls] will do whatever needs to be done so they can play,” Tucker said. “If they have to wear a mask, they’ll wear a mask. That’s kind of where they are, and the general feeling in my household.”
As for meeting crowd capacity regulations, the statewide limit of 50% wasn’t met at Peaster. Fans were able to walk up and purchase tickets. The junior varsity games were held in a separate building.
Each team had their own locker room and entered the gym through the back entrance. Fans entered through the front. The teams didn’t switch sides and there were no handshakes, both things that would typically happen at volleyball matches.
Every player and coach for Argyle wore a mask or gator on the bench.
Argyle coach Megan DeGroot even switched from a mask to a face shield during her last game. The coaches supplied hand sanitizer for the girls once they got off the court.
“When we were told to wear masks back in the summer, I was fully prepared for the season to look like this,” DeGroot said. “Our district requires us to wear them so the more we get use to it, the better.”
Argyle is in Denton County, which has nearly seven times more COVID cases (7,745) than Parker County (1,225), where Peaster resides. Masks are recommended, but not required in Peaster’s district.
More than half of Peaster spectators weren’t wearing masks. Some on the Lake Worth and Peaster benches weren’t wearing one. Most of Argyle’s fans walked in wearing a mask and only a few weren’t wearing one while sitting down.
“We want our kids to continue to play, and to keep them as safe as possible,” Peaster coach Autumn Threet said. “This is uncharted territory for everyone and we are doing our very best each day. Our kids deserve that and the opportunity to do what they love.”
And families did their part to socially distance.
“We were talking about that and were a bit surprised at some people not [wearing a mask],” Tucker said. “But we’re doing what the coaches asked us to do. We’re representing Argyle. We just want to play, whatever it takes to get them out there. It’s so much a part of their livelihood. It keeps them active, it keeps them busy.”
This story was originally published August 12, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
