Riverdale Athletics Adapt to New Safety Guidelines

Oct 14

Oct 14 Riverdale Athletics Adapt to New Safety Guidelines

varsity football athletes participate in virtual practice – Aidan Friedsam/the riverdale review

Despite the challenges we continue to face amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Riverdale Athletic Director Mr. Pizzi, along with the athletic department and the administration, has created a system that still allows students to engage with their teammates and, hopefully, return to the field and competition after winter break. Although there are no competitions scheduled for the remainder of the calendar year, fall teams have been meeting virtually since the beginning of September. They started in-person practices on the first week of October.

During the virtual meetings, fall student-athletes have been doing various activities to return to peak physical condition and build team connections. Teams are offered to either participate in Coach MacIvor and Coach Katie’s workouts or to do something by themselves.

All the coaches and team captains have found ways to reach their team goals in unique ways. For example, varsity football co-captain Aidan Friedsam explained that the captains broke the team up into “families” so that the younger freshman and sophomores can begin to develop relationships with upperclassmen.

Coach Sherman, the girls’ varsity tennis coach, said that the team has been meeting three times a week and, every session, a senior leads a workout of their choice, allowing for moments of leadership.

Co-captain of the boys’ cross country team Yash More mentioned that the coaches of both the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams recently brought the two teams together to allow for greater team bonding, given that in normal circumstances, the two teams spend a lot of time running together.

These are just a few examples of what teams have been doing in order to achieve some sense of normalcy and to use time as effectively as possible, given the restrictions.

On October 1st, teams began in-person team practices, starting with once a week. Teams will be required to maintain twelve feet of distance from one another and will not be allowed to share equipment. Coach- es have requested certain pieces of equipment for each of their athletes.

For example, each member of the volleyball team will receive their own ball to take home and bring with them whenever they are set to meet in person. In order to prevent the mixing of grades, only students who are on campus for classes that particular day will be allowed to attend.

To allow for teams across all seasons to compete, Mr. Pizzi has changed the seasons from fall, winter, and spring to season one, two, and three. Immediately after students return to school in January after winter break, the winter-sport athletes will begin their six-week season. The first two weeks of the season will be dedicated solely to practice and the remaining four weeks teams will begin for competing.

After the six weeks of winter sports have finished, season two will begin, adopting the same format as season one. With the exception of girls’ tennis, typical fall sports are now considered “season two” sports. Once season two wraps up towards the end of April, season three will begin. All spring sports will compete in season three.

This six-week season format allows every student-athlete to compete in their sport and, also, provides flexibility in terms of time. In a meeting with fall season captains, Mr. Pizzi mentioned that if we miss a week, he can still shift everything back to ensure each season has lasted the same amount of time. Riverdale sports have been resilient and resourceful in overcoming the hurdles brought by COVID-19.