Similar to many aspects of the high school experience, the way students experience athletics had to change this year. Each sport is able to still practice and play in games, but in order to keep everyone safe a few new protocols were put in place.
There are several aspects administrators had to think about when creating a new protocol for athletics at MFS. The school’s new protocol is as efficient as it can be while still keeping everyone safe. The Fall Athletics Roadmap stated that, “ All Middle and Upper school student-athletes with sports equipment/gear to store will enter school in the morning through the Baiada Field House Gym (BFHG) Courtyard Door.”
After school, an adult monitors the number of athletes at a time to pick up their equipment/clothes and change for practice. This entire process is done with masks on and the athletes keep their masks on until right before they begin warm-ups.
A new protocol was put in place regarding the use of the water jugs. The ability to easily fill up water bottles is very important for athletes. Through practice, athletes work hard and they need to be able to stay hydrated; it is important that they water jugs are easily accessible to ensure that the athletes have access to water in the location of their practice. In order to still have the water jugs while keeping everyone safe, the coaches wear gloves and fill up each athlete’s water bottle when needed.
In order to follow social distancing guidelines MFS announced, “We will have one student-athlete or coach per seat. Face coverings are required for all staff and students while on buses. Seating will be assigned in order to maintain social distancing, all windows will be open and no food or beverages may be consumed on the bus.”
In regards to spectators the MFS administration decided, “Spectators will be permitted at athletic events on campus but will not have access to the school buildings. All spectators attending outdoor athletic events must wear face coverings the entire time they are on campus.”
After each game or practice athletes cannot enter the school building. They have to leave directly after their game or practice ends to prevent unnecessary crowding.
Girls Tennis player Blythe O’Connor ’22 said, “I think the way the school is handling sports is good because we are still allowed to play, just with precautions.”
For incoming freshmen, this is their first experience of high school sports. They had to miss out on some key aspects of high school sports. Girls Soccer player Avani Verma ’24 commented, “I was looking forward to preseason because that would have been the time when all of the girls would have really come together.”
Even with many new protocols, students are excited to still be able to participate in a fall sport. Girls Soccer player Janiah Mcrae ’22 commented, “I feel like if anything, sports is a relieving time because we get to be outside with our team and train together. Especially with hybrid because you can still go to practice even if you are not present during school. It makes you feel like you are still a part of the community.”
