High school football is back in Chattahoochee Valley, with a new kind of face mask
One of Calvary Christian’s workout groups had just finished a weightlifting session. It was 10 a.m. Thursday, and the group shuffled outside to begin the next phase of their summer workout: a two-mile conditioning run.
Brian Osborne, the Knights’ head coach since the program’s inception, had already run four miles that morning — he took part in the conditioning with each workout group. But he was thankful for a short break as, drenched in sweat, he donned a protective mask and sprayed a cleaning fog onto each surface in the weight room. Everything was enveloped in the spray, from barbells to benches, and even the weightlifting belts used by players during heavy squats.
As the cliche goes: This is the new normal for high school football in the area, for the time being.
“It’s a process each morning,” Osborne said. “But I’m willing to do it if it’s what allows us to work out, and to get ready for the season.”
The Knights play in GAPPS, a private school association whose safety measures are more lenient than those set forth by the GHSA. Footballs can be used, though in a limited fashion. Players must social distance, meaning quarterbacks cannot hand off to running backs and linemen cannot use their typical splits.
All athletes at Calvary must be screened for COVID-19 before each workout. If a player leaves campus after football workouts and returns later for basketball, he must be screened again. Any athlete who shows signs of the virus must be seen by a doctor before returning to action.
Member schools in the GHSA were allowed to begin practices June 8, and most did, but Muscogee County School District has yet to allow its schools to begin workouts. The district has not said when schools can plan to start working out, as of Thursday.
The safety measures used at Glenwood, 2019 AISA state runner-up, are similar. Players for Jason Gibson’s Gators must bring two one-gallon water jugs labeled with their name. Glenwood opens summer workouts June 15.
Another state runner-up from a season ago, AHSAA class 7A’s Central, has already started.
New Red Devils coach Patrick Nix’s day begins at 7 a.m. and ends after 5 p.m. Central’s offense and defense practice at separate times, with a break in between.
AHSAA guidelines allow teams to use balls. When inside, side spotters are required to be used when lifting heavy weights.
The team used weights light enough to where spotters are not necessary, Nix said.
The governing body encourages that all coaches, athletes and personnel be screened each day for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 infection prior to participating in any workout or gathering. When physical distancing cannot be maintained, all individuals are encouraged — not required — to wear cloth face coverings.
Most of Central’s players and coaches wore masks Thursday afternoon, including Nix.
All footballs and equipment were wiped down following each workout, and individuals were told to wash their hands each time they entered and exited a building.
“We’re excited to be in here,” Nix said, referring to the school’s indoor practice facility. “Excited to be working, and getting back at it, all that kind of stuff, for sure.”
