Fall 2: Floater Season

COVID has been changing the world and it doesn’t just stop at the shut down, mandatory masks, online schooling, and grocery store lines. It has affected everything. Sports are now almost under reconstruction, or at least that’s how it feels.

MIAA’s attempt to make things safer and return to normal as much as possible, is pushing several sports into a “floater”season, or as some call it “fall 2.” What this means is, football, soccer, volleyball, and potentially indoor track will all take place in February and end in April. The sports that were pushed back were allowed to have 2 practices per week, while attempting to keep physical distance, wearing masks, and having their temperatures taken before stepping onto the fields or court.

The reasoning behind the sports being pushed back is all for the safety of the athletes. Football and soccer are contact sports, and with COVID, they are trying to limit contact. With football that is impossible, and soccer would be nearly impossible but it is doable. In many parts of the state soccer was allowed to run, but in our county most schools chose to postpone their seasons.

There are some significant rule changes as an attempt to make soccer matches safer, including no intentional heading of the ball, no touching someone on the opposing team intentionally, and no slide tackles. As for volleyball and indoor track, it’s the issue with too many people in a confined indoor space at one time.

Looking ahead, no one really knows what is going to happen. As things seemingly get worse and the winter season approaches, all we can do is hope that things return to normal. We have to follow the precautions to keep ourselves and the people around us safe as athletes so we can continue to play. Things continue to change, but it’s for the better. All in all, MIAA is just trying to keep the athletes and everyone affiliated with the sports safe.