MORGANTOWN, W.Va. —
The word of the summer for University High athletic director Jeff Bailey is “hope.”
It seems like a distant memory, but less than four months ago, the West Virginia state basketball tournaments were canceled in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States. While many were hoping it would blow over quickly, weeks went by without any updates. Finally, the call was made, and with the entire spring season went the hopes of both UHS basketball programs of securing a state title.
“It was a huge hit,” Bailey said. “I’m a big boy and although it was devastating to me, I’m the adult and should be able to handle it. But what broke my heart was for all of my athletes, especially the seniors who had everything taken away from them. I do understand and support why we did it.”
So naturally, as heartbreaking as that moment was for Bailey, now that fall sports are on track to start on time, he’s ready to get things rolling.
“[With] these phases, the word that comes to mind is hope,” he said. “When you have serious doubts when you look at what’s going on with COVID nationally and throughout the state, there is a part of your mind that’s doom and gloom and almost devastated that we might not be able to get started in the fall. But these phases with support of the WVSSAC has given me a good bit of hope that things proceed when we get to August.”
After multiple counties pushed back the three-week summer workouts to early or mid-July, Gov. Jim Justice announced May 29 that as part of his reopening plan, summer youth events, including high school sports, could resume per a plan set by the WVSSAC. The Commission laid out a three-phase plan allowing student-athletes to acclimate and get in shape after more than eight weeks of suspended programming. Phase 1, which started Monday, is allowing conditioning and strength training outdoors following social distancing guidelines.
Although surprised, Bailey and other area athletic directors immediately sprung into action when Justice announced the plan, and with the blessing of the Monongalia County Board of Education, the sound of training can be heard once more.
“For all coaches who express interest and starting in Phase 1, we’re able to accommodate those teams as a whole,” Bailey said. “We’re following all the rules, regs and guidelines of pods of 10 and social distancing, and with the wide-open stadium that we have and with some of the other practice fields, we’re able to bring in groups and keep them in different areas and pods. Our strength coach, when we bring in the bigger groups, [can] go in the bleachers or press box and use the microphone to coach from a distance. He’s able to reach more groups at the stadium and other areas as they’re around.
“Some coaches wanted to go earlier in the morning, some wanted to go later in the afternoon so it’s all spread out during the day.”
Though easily managed for University due to its wide array of open-space facilities, its crosstown counterpart Morgantown has to stagger its schedule differently. Built on the south side of town on a hill, Morgantown’s only outdoor facility is Pony Lewis Field. While this may seem like it could stunt programs like the defending state-champion girls’ soccer team, MHS athletic director John Bowers doesn’t see it that way.
“University High is blessed that they have physical space and a lot of real estate, but we’re certainly blessed here even if we are a little landlocked,” Bowers said. “I’ll tell you where we’re fortunate, we have the most cooperative, best coaches in the state. We got on a Microsoft team meeting and decided which groups would come back in for the phased return to activity, and once we got a headcount of which sports wanted to be involved we worked it out as a team. We were able to schedule folks field time, and our coaches — it was beautiful — worked together, took each others’ requests to heart and took their athletes’ requests [into account]. Some of the kiddos on the volleyball team [have jobs] so we were able to wiggle them into a later spot. Between the coaches, we were able to work out a feasible schedule where we could get our programs that want to participate to get them back into their time slots.”
Regardless of when teams practice, both ADs report that not only are athletes showing up and enjoying being out of the house, there’s also a sense of relief that sports are returning.
“Hopefullym it’s a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. That’s everyone’s wish: Being able to start with our fall season,” Bailey said. “We’re hopeful and just excited to be out again. Again, we’re paying a great deal of attention to all of the protocols. We don’t want to lose this opportunity.”
“It’s great to have the kids back on campus,” Bowers said. “As coaches, teachers, admin, we get into this game for our young people. We get into this game to be with the young people, coach them and watch them grow and learn. It’s refreshing to see people back doing what they love. The kids getting to participate and coaches coaching, teaching and developing relationships. That’s what it’s all about.
“For the physical development of the kids this is important, it absolutely is, but more so for the emotional and social development, [too]. Kids are not meant to be isolated in their rooms or basements playing video games, they’re meant to be on teams, with friends and in classes, so whatever we can do to get these kiddos back to normalcy is tremendously important.”
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