Season met with cautious optimism
Coaches preaching accountability to players
The squeaking of sneakers returned Monday.
So, too, did the bouncing of balls, off the hardwood and backboards. Gymnasiums across the commonwealth were once again alive with the sounds of high school basketball, finally underway after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of course, this upcoming season will be a bit different due to the aforementioned pandemic. Much like it did in a shortened fall season, the existence of the novel coronavirus has forced the implementation of rules changes and modifications in basketball.
But just getting on the court is something of a victory.
“I think most of us are happy just to get
in gyms and start tryouts and practices,” Lunenburg boys head coach Jon Economo said Monday. “Everyone is cautious, but I’m glad we’re able to do something for the kids.”
Masks will be worn. Contact will be limited as much as possible, with rebounding restrictions on free throws among the changes. But most coaches agree that in order to make it through a complete schedule, what happens off the court will be just as important – if not more so – than what happens during practices or games.
“We can only control the things we can control. So we’re going to be responsible and not be going to parties or hanging out with big groups (away from the team),” North Middlesex Regional boys head coach Jon Doherty said. “We’re going to be as safe as we can be and hope that others do that as well. We’re going to be responsible because we know how much our seniors want to play and no one wants to let those guys down.
“The rule changes and masks don’t make too much of a difference. We’ve got a lot of kids who played sports in the fall and wore masks. And I don’t think the rules change how I coach or throw anything off for us.”
Following the first day of practice at Leominster High, boys head coach Kevin Grutchfield echoed the sentiment that trying to get through the season for his seniors was one of the main objectives for the Blue Devils.
“I’m looking forward to these kids having a chance to compete and I’m happy that our seniors will hopefully have a season,” he said. “They have worked hard for four years and deserve a chance to compete. We will take it one
day at a time and try to get better every day despite the many obstacles and restrictions. The kids are just so happy being back in the gym.”
With the threat of COVID-19 being spread despite the abundance of sanitizer in gyms and the best plans and intentions from athletic departments, every program is seeing unique turnouts for the season.
At North Middlesex, Doherty says he’s got somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 athletes coming out for the team, while Economo said he’s had several families make the difficult decision to sit out the basketball season.
“I’m optimistic that we’ll be smart and do the right things,” Economo said. “I think if you see one person get sick, the whole thing gets shut down. So it’s a little different in the teambonding aspect, with no film work and no pizza parties. There’s not going to be any of that stuff.”
There will be no sectional or state tournaments this winter, though individual groups or pods will be allowed to hold tournaments with their teams. Doherty says he initially worried about keeping his group motivated, but that he doesn’t think it will be an issue.
“I think the pod playoffs could be a huge motivator,” he said. “It helps having that carrot dangling in front of you.”
For Grutchfield, pod titles aren’t something he’s thought much about. The goal for the Blue Devils is much more simple: cross the finish line.
“If we get through the season, that would be a huge success. This will be a tough road ahead and an incredible challenge for our kids, coaches and administrators,” Grutchfield said. “Our kids worked really hard (Monday) and stayed safe doing it. Let’s hope we can make this season happen.”