Area teams have first practice in nearly a year
Chico, Pleasant Valley football teams hit the field again, resume practice
CHICO >> Grant Garretson could hardly sleep Thursday night and by Friday morning he was already feeling butterflies in his stomach.
“I woke up this morning with the butterflies and was ready to go, it was very, very exciting,” said Garretson, a senior linebacker and tight end for the Pleasant Valley football team.
By 4 p.m. Friday, an ampedup, rowdy varsity squad had taken the field at Pleasant Valley’s Asgard Yard.
Decked out in full pads and helmets which players received on Thursday, it was the first real practice the team has had since March 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic put a pause on all youth sports. Previously, football teams were permitted to hold sociallydistanced conditioning which didn’t include full pads or contact.
“We’re all just grateful to be playing right now,” Garretson said.
It was the first day contact sports could resume practice after the California Department of Public Health adjusted its youth sports guidelines on Feb. 19. Under the new guidance, contact sports such as football, baseball, softball and soccer are permitted to take place in counties that are under the purple and red tiers. Those contact sports can only happen if a county’s case rate is at or under 14 per 100,000. As of Friday, Butte County’s case rate was 10.4 per 100,000.
“We finally got the goahead,” said PV head football coach Mark Cooley. “My entire class was hooping and hollering. It’s been exciting.”
Across town at Chico High’s Panther Stadium, the football team had its first practice, although it was more of an introductory session to go over rules and protocols said Chico High football coach and athletic director Jason Alvistur.
“For the kids to play, it’s a weight off their shoulders,” Alvistur said. “Next week is when we’re really going to get going.”
Friday’s practice at PV was for the most part business as usual. Linemen were running their blocking drills, quarterback Ian Guanzon was slinging a football downfield and a variety of receivers were practicing running routes against defenders.
But Cooley said the first practice needed to be taken slow to avoid injuries, yet his players would prefer to go full throttle.
“They want to go full throttle off the bat,” Cooley said. “We’re excited and pumped up to be out here.”
Having a football season in his senior year seemed unlikely a month ago, Garretson said.
“It’s such a relief for these seniors honestly to be able to play our senior year,” Garretson said. “Our fingers were crossed. The Let Them Play CA page did a good job supporting us.
You just keep working and good things will come your way.”
The most challenging part about waiting almost a year to play sports has been keeping the kids encouraged and enthusiastic, Alvsitur said. He had even begun losing hope that a season would happen.
“It was hard not to get discouraged. It was the kids that kept me going,” Alvistur said.
Since October, the Chico High football team had been conditioning, which Alvistur said had really good attendance.
However, after the players
had a week off from conditioning due to poor weather, Alvistur said a majority of kids stopped showing up since they had about 30 workouts in with no games to play.
“The kids stopped coming. It’s so much fun to play a football game. That’s what keeps these kids interested.” Alvistur said. “The numbers were dwindling and I was getting ready to call (the season). But that week, the governor made that announcement.”
Now the focus has been shifted to making his players’ football experience
as enjoyable as it can be, Alvistur said.
“We’re out here to be with each other and to have fun,” Alvistur said.
In the Northern Section, the football season must be wrapped up by April 30 meaning it’ll be an abbreviated season likely with four or five games.
“Hopefully we go undefeated and beat anyone who’s in our way,” Garretson said. “We just want to come out safe and healthy and have a good season.”