Sonoma Valley athletes struggle to train in shutdown

Sonoma Valley athletes in football and cross country are doing what they can to prepare for a season that may not come.|

Typically, summer is a perfect time for high school sports teams to get a head start on team chemistry, strength and conditioning; however, the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to most of this.

While no decision has yet been made regarding the fall sports season by the CIF – California Interscholastic Federation, the governing body for California high school sports – teams have to prepare for a season that may not take place. Even with the season in question, Sonoma Valley High School athletes are doing their best to prepare after months of being at home.

Last month, the CIF announced, “The CIF is prepared to offer alternative calendars if it is determined by July 20 that fall sports may not start as scheduled due to ongoing public health and safety concerns.” However, this announcement came before COVID-19 cases began to rise as sharply as they are now, in mid-July.

Currently sports teams have strict guidelines pertaining to what they are allowed to do ahead of the 2020-21 school year. Teams are not allowed to work out at all indoors, and only football, cross country and girls basketball are holding restricted conditioning outdoors.

First-year head football coach and Sonoma native Clay Jackson said of these outdoor conditioning exercises, “Our program runs about 45 minutes. It's just conditioning without equipment, including footballs, and everyone is spread out just getting their bodies back in shape.” Along with running, they have been using weights outdoors with proper sanitation.

Football currently has broken up the training by grade level, with freshman and sophomores practicing earlier, followed by the junior and senior athletes. Attendance has been good considering the circumstances, as Jackson noted they are averaging around 50 to 55 players each day in total. “I worried about the turnout a little bit at first but most of the parents I talk to are excited to have their kids doing something again, and turnout has been really good,” he said. “It’s been great because this would be voluntary time anyway, so to have 50 kids out every day is good.”

Current workouts are a little different from typical summer sessions, as players must abide by social distancing regulations. But coaches have found ways to make it a little more engaging and fun for the athletes. “Last week we did some testing with them, like the 40-yard dash, three-cone drill and bench press. We brought the weights outdoors, put players in small groups, and had them go station to station. That’s the last big thing we’ve done,” added Jackson.

The hope is that in the coming weeks they will shift to positional drills to give the players some experience with the different positions, but in accordance with regulations the equipment will still be left on the sidelines.

Long-time cross-country coach John Litzenberg has been able to operate his conditioning program similarly to that in years past. “We started doing some summer runs a couple weekends ago. We are meeting at the high school or Maxwell Park and doing our runs from there,” said Litzenberg.

Currently, the team is meeting twice a week for runs to build stamina. “I haven’t had a whole lot of people come out yet, with the virus concerns and people working and vacationing, but it’s been good to get some runners out there,” said Litzenberg.

Both teams are following safety protocols including temperature checks and symptom surveys prior to activity. Additionally, waivers had to be signed by athletes and parents prior to exercising and masks are worn before and after physical activity.

The Lady Dragons are also doing restricted, distanced conditioning: On Thursday, July 16, 12 athletes woke up bright and early to put in some work in preparation for a basketball season, though unlike cross country and football, basketball is on the winter sports schedule.

Until further instruction is given by the CIF, Dragon athletes and coaches are doing their best to prepare for the unknown. That instruction could come as soon as Monday.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.