From virtual connections and calls to serve, high school coaches offer solutions, empathy and guidance to student-athletes.
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During these challenging and uncharted times, high school coaches are at the forefront of the effort to keep athletes engaged and positive as the coronavirus pandemic has created a world of uncertainty.
MaxPreps recently sent a survey to spring and fall high school coaches nationwide, asking for advice, insights,
challenges and
creative solutions to combat the physical and social restrictions presented
by shelter-in-place mandates.
As a service to other coaches, parents and athletes, we're sharing some of those responses. We'll release 20 at a time regularly throughout the spring.
BASEBALL
Goshen (Ind.) coach J.J. DuBoisTo
amplify his point that dealing with the pandemic is a
"marathon and not a sprint," DuBois is encouraging his players to run 26.2
miles total over the spring. He texts his players daily and even sends separate texts for his seniors. DuBois made sure every player has a clean game jersey and hat "to hang on their doors," he said. He's
frustrated because "resources are out there — I just wish I saw this
coming." He also hopes in Indiana something positive might come
out of it. "I hope baseball becomes more of a summer sport anyway," he
said.
His team prepares meals for older adults. "With so much negativity, I just encourage the kids to stay positive," he said.
He's
having players send photos in full uniform to make a poster. With no
field time, Carroll is focused on "finding other avenues to discover how
to reach out to college coaches." His message to the players: "Stay
positive, this will pass and your day to shine is right around the
corner."
His
emphasis to other coaches is to stay calm. "If you're stressed, your
player will stress," Shield said. He's placed videos on team pages and
drills they can do on their own. "We can't meet face-to-face, but we
have a team video chat to make sure everyone is fine and nobody needs
anything."
Holly (Colo.) coach Dayne Eaton and his team are preparing meals for older adults and trying to stay positive.
File photo by Kevin Prickett
He
has his squad delivering meals to others in the community. His message to the team: "You
can't control the uncontrollable," he wrote. "Stay away from people and
keep busy exercising."
His
biggest message to players is to "Keep the faith, relax and enjoy this
time the best you can," he wrote. "Take advantage of time with family
you don't normally get." He knows with little to no spring preparation,
"There will be a longer learning curve for our guys. We'll have a slower
install process than normal." Ginn's biggest goal is to let his players
know "how much I miss them. Anything I can to still help them to
prepare for the 2020 season I will."
Harmon
said a big message to players is: "Find and develop a routine and stick
to it and increase your communication with teammates." He's
implemented an online Madden tournament, virtual workouts, coaches
clinics and electronic homework for his team and staff. He notes that
his community has shown tremendous volunteerism — like delivering meals
to first responders and medical people — and got his team involved in
that process.
Like all coaches in the
survey, he preaches caution: "I fear we need time to better understand
the virus and develop vaccinations and cures, allowing caution to be the
safe path," he wrote. More advice to
players: "Embrace distance learning. Continue to move toward your
schedule with slight modifications to the methodology by which you
accomplish the goal."
Greencastle (Ind.) coach Mike MeyerHis message is simple, loud and global: "Keep believing," he said.
TRACK AND FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY
Dunnahoo feels great "sadness about them missing their season," she said. "But grateful that they are OK."
With
the season canceled, Johnston said he's just been much more proactive
in contacting college coaches. His message to the players: "Stay
positive and do what you can to keep working and improving your craft,"
he wrote. Johnston has also made a greater point with seniors to "thank
them for their years of hard work, leadership and let them know they
have had a great impact on our program and coaches."
Larisch
is passing on yoga and home exercises to her runners. With extra home
time, she's producing a commercial to promote cross-country recruitment.
Her main emphasis for runners is self care.
SOCCER
With
11 seniors among the 19 on his spring roster, "It has been very
difficult," Gilbert admits. "I have promised them that we will have an
alumni game and senior night when we are able to. Other than that, I
just try to sympathize with them." He also tries to remind them of the
nature of the game. "Keep working. Keep being optimistic. Never give up
on the game. The game never stops."
Ungaro has tried to see the forest through the trees: "In the big picture, this is just one step in a long journey."
SOFTBALL
She
is sending motivational quotes and videos on almost a daily basis. "I'm
trying to keep them encouraged," Allen said. "And let them know things
are going to be all right."
Dorrell
regularly shares news from the NCHSAA and NFHS, and relevant articles on
"Generation Z," to keep players in the know. He also communicates
through Twitter and other social platforms on the importance of staying active.
He's doing everything within his means to get his seniors recognized
and give them exposure in local publications. His overall
message to the team: "This is not normal," he said. "This is not what is
going to happen on a regular basis. Focus on what you can control —
your effort and attitude."
Like
many in the survey, Skaggs has emphasized to his players the importance
of family. "Just take care of them," he said. "That's the most
important thing. ... Stay positive. There could be worse things."
The
season may be over, but Taravella organizes daily exercises on Zoom.
Every player has an individual workout they can do online at home. "Our
season may be done, but a lifetime of fitness has begun," Taravella
wrote. She also adds a big-picture message to her team regularly: "This
too shall pass, and we can learn from it."
Like
all spring coaches, Vassallo has had to prioritize "life after
softball," lessons. She's had to "learn to help them in other ways."
Part of her messages have been: "We can only control the controllables.
Unfortunately, this is not one. God only gives his hardest battles to
his strongest soldiers."
VOLLEYBALL
If kids need to talk, Fehrenbacher is there to listen. The best advice for her players is "Talk if you need to, get outside and move about and don't spend this entire time confined to the indoors." Her advice to other coaches is "We're all in the same boat. Just be there for your kids because they are struggling, too."
New Prairie (New Carlisle, Ind.) coach Jordan StausStraus
is just trying to keep "a sense of normalcy and routine," she said. She
utilizes about every resource possible electronically from distributing
homemade Zoom workouts, to organizing Netflix watch parties and
utilizing a Remind App to check in with her athletes "to talk if they
need." She wishes she had access to her own gym "for my own sanity," but
she continues to send her overall message which is: "Stay positive,
keep working and practicing the sport you love."
