Crossroads, KVA brace for another pandemic-affected sports season
By Brandon White bwhite@hendersondispatch.com;
HENDERSON — The COVID-19 pandemic remains a major concern for local N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association schools —Crossroads Christian and Kerr-Vance Academy — with fall sports set to begin next week.
A recent update provided by the NCISAA encourages coaches, athletes and spectators to wear masks if they are not vaccinated, but Crossroads athletic director Scottie Richardson anticipates the recommendation might become a requirement for everyone if COVID-19 cases continue to increase.
“This is still a wait-and-see period for us,” Richardson said. “I fully expect to hear something from the NCISAA this Friday. We mirror what [Gov. Roy Cooper] does, but right now, we have masks just about everywhere at the school except when students are at their desks.”
Many of the protocols that Crossroads enacted during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic remain in place one year later, which include temperature checks at the entrances along with regular sanitation of equipment.
Richardson also intends to keep following other recommendations from the NCISAA that include social distancing in team meetings and on the bench, along with maintaining a game atmosphere that allows spectators to enter and leave without interacting for a significant period of time.
There were no guidelines that said those affiliated with the NCISAA had to wear masks if they were fully vaccinated. Despite this, Richardson said that trends around North Carolina will likely lead the NCISAA to alter this stance for precautionary measures.
“I know Durham County has masks for all indoor facilities, along with Granville County,” Richardson said. “You’re seeing these indoor mask mandates returning throughout our entire state, and I would not be surprised if we are all back competing and coaching in masks during the fall.”
Like Richardson, KVA athletic director Sam Feaver is expecting some of the NCISAA guidelines to change before athletic competitions begin, but he is also trying to remain flexible with the recommendations while simultaneously emphasizing safety.
For outdoor sports at KVA, no one is required to wear a mask as long as they stay a respectable distance away from others. Spectators will be required to wear masks for indoor events, but coaches and players do not have to as long as they are vaccinated.
Feaver said he has been disappointed by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases despite the availability of vaccines, as he wanted students, coaches and parents to enjoy a more normal sports season without the fear of potentially getting sick.
“This is obviously real tough on all of our student athletes,” Feaver said. “I know a lot of juniors thought the pandemic would be over for their senior year. They’re also going back into a more restrictive area after being around friends and families during the summer. However, our athletes are very resilient and they’ll make the most out of the situation.”
With infections and hospitalizations from the COVID-19 delta variant rising, Feaver said that he is ready to support any action the NCISAA takes to curtail the spread of the virus, which he hopes does not involve any games without fans like the beginning of the 2020-21 sports year.
“The NCISAA wants to be really careful right now about protecting schools and student athletes,” Feaver said. “I can definitely imagine them requiring masks or going back to real strict measures to see how that works. Hopefully, this delta variant is a small blip and we don’t get to that point.”
Richardson knows that students and faculty at Crossroads want to see the gymnasium come to life once again. While he remains optimistic that the COVID-19 situation might change before the winter sports season, Richardson said that many at the school have started physically and mentally preparing for another COVID-19-dominated year.
Even though worries about the virus persist, Richardson applauded his coaching staff for setting a positive example when it comes to protection against COVID-19, with over 95% of them being fully vaccinated.
Although a COVID-19-free season at Crossroads is no longer a reality, Richardson said that he and his coaches are determined to ensure that student athletes remain healthy and play full schedules over the next several months.
“We’ve done this before,” Richardson said. “The kids want to compete and if it comes down to it, they will wear a mask and I will coach in one. We want to make sure everyone is safe and we will do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal.”
Contact Brandon White at bwhite@hendersondispatch.com or by phone at 252-436-2840
By Brandon White bwhite@hendersondispatch.com;
HENDERSON — The COVID-19 pandemic remains a major concern for local N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association schools —Crossroads Christian and Kerr-Vance Academy — with fall sports set to begin next week.
A recent update provided by the NCISAA encourages coaches, athletes and spectators to wear masks if they are not vaccinated, but Crossroads athletic director Scottie Richardson anticipates the recommendation might become a requirement for everyone if COVID-19 cases continue to increase.
“This is still a wait-and-see period for us,” Richardson said. “I fully expect to hear something from the NCISAA this Friday. We mirror what [Gov. Roy Cooper] does, but right now, we have masks just about everywhere at the school except when students are at their desks.”
Many of the protocols that Crossroads enacted during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic remain in place one year later, which include temperature checks at the entrances along with regular sanitation of equipment.
Richardson also intends to keep following other recommendations from the NCISAA that include social distancing in team meetings and on the bench, along with maintaining a game atmosphere that allows spectators to enter and leave without interacting for a significant period of time.
There were no guidelines that said those affiliated with the NCISAA had to wear masks if they were fully vaccinated. Despite this, Richardson said that trends around North Carolina will likely lead the NCISAA to alter this stance for precautionary measures.
“I know Durham County has masks for all indoor facilities, along with Granville County,” Richardson said. “You’re seeing these indoor mask mandates returning throughout our entire state, and I would not be surprised if we are all back competing and coaching in masks during the fall.”
Like Richardson, KVA athletic director Sam Feaver is expecting some of the NCISAA guidelines to change before athletic competitions begin, but he is also trying to remain flexible with the recommendations while simultaneously emphasizing safety.
For outdoor sports at KVA, no one is required to wear a mask as long as they stay a respectable distance away from others. Spectators will be required to wear masks for indoor events, but coaches and players do not have to as long as they are vaccinated.
Feaver said he has been disappointed by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases despite the availability of vaccines, as he wanted students, coaches and parents to enjoy a more normal sports season without the fear of potentially getting sick.
“This is obviously real tough on all of our student athletes,” Feaver said. “I know a lot of juniors thought the pandemic would be over for their senior year. They’re also going back into a more restrictive area after being around friends and families during the summer. However, our athletes are very resilient and they’ll make the most out of the situation.”
With infections and hospitalizations from the COVID-19 delta variant rising, Feaver said that he is ready to support any action the NCISAA takes to curtail the spread of the virus, which he hopes does not involve any games without fans like the beginning of the 2020-21 sports year.
“The NCISAA wants to be really careful right now about protecting schools and student athletes,” Feaver said. “I can definitely imagine them requiring masks or going back to real strict measures to see how that works. Hopefully, this delta variant is a small blip and we don’t get to that point.”
Richardson knows that students and faculty at Crossroads want to see the gymnasium come to life once again. While he remains optimistic that the COVID-19 situation might change before the winter sports season, Richardson said that many at the school have started physically and mentally preparing for another COVID-19-dominated year.
Even though worries about the virus persist, Richardson applauded his coaching staff for setting a positive example when it comes to protection against COVID-19, with over 95% of them being fully vaccinated.
Although a COVID-19-free season at Crossroads is no longer a reality, Richardson said that he and his coaches are determined to ensure that student athletes remain healthy and play full schedules over the next several months.
“We’ve done this before,” Richardson said. “The kids want to compete and if it comes down to it, they will wear a mask and I will coach in one. We want to make sure everyone is safe and we will do whatever it takes to accomplish that goal.”
Contact Brandon White at bwhite@hendersondispatch.com or by phone at 252-436-2840
