By Melissa Catpo, Staff Writer
During October, student athletes typically prepare for their sports season and play in fall games; but a lot has changed for the athletes here at Mills since school switched to remote learning. Many people, including myself, have been wondering what new rules or customs Mills’ athletes have been following due to these new circumstances.
A day in the life of a Mills athlete generally looks like this: students get ready, attend that day’s respective Zoom classes, finish their homework, and either condition at home or head off to campus to attend practice. Although conditioning at home looks different for each sport, some examples are running around their neighborhood, lifting weights, or, for sports like Basketball, practicing dribbling, passing, and shooting drills. Team practices usually happen around 2-3 times a week. In order to attend practices, athletes are required to wear a mask upon arrival. Every individual then gets their temperature checked and is asked questions regarding their COVID-19 risk exposure. Athletes have the choice to take their mask off or keep it on once practice officially starts, but coaches keep their masks on the entire time. All equipment used, like basketballs or rackets, are sanitized before and after practices. During the entire practice, only designated team members are allowed on the courts.
Student athletes at Mills reflected on their current conditioning experiences, expressing their concerns about the safety and future of practices. When asked about her thoughts on the newly enforced mandates and schedule, junior varsity basketball player Sianna Peel (10) mentioned, “I feel like the [COVID-19] policies are well fitting and helps everyone feel comfortable while still being able to play and work hard.” She also added that her basketball team is uncertain how games will work, as they will not begin until March. Another varsity basketball player, Serena Mezzetta (10) had mixed feelings about the modifications. She explained, “I feel okay about the schedule, I wish we could practice inside the gym rather than outside. I also wish we could scrimmage and play real games, but I am glad that we are able to practice at all.” Additionally, Jeremiah Metry (9), a prospective football player, stated, “I think it’s ridiculous. There honestly shouldn’t be sports at all, you never know what someone has. If one person gets [the coronavirus], then we all get it.” It is evident that there is a vast range of feelings regarding the new protocols and if it is safe to continue to play sports during the pandemic. Varsity cheerleader, Leanna Yu (12), attends practice on campus twice a week, sharing, “Although it’s unclear what will happen to sports games next semester, we continue to condition to stay in shape and prepare for the possibility of cheering at future games. Our practices generally consist of practicing cheers, stretching, improving jumps and kicks, and strength/toning or cardio workouts at the end.” Due to abrupt and uncharted events, Mills athletes now have an abundance of different rules, schedules, and circumstances implemented in order to keep every individual safe and healthy. While some athletes feel safe and are glad sports are still continuing, others are discomforted that sports are still being played during this crisis.. Whether the new mandates are adequate or not seems to be a controversial topic, which is reflected in the attendance numbers of conditioning practices. Regardless, The Mills Thunderbolt hopes these mandates are enough to keep athletes protected from this highly infectious virus. Stay safe Vikings!
