The challenge and potential of sports during Covid

Sports during quarantine and social distancing restrictions have been a challenge, but coaches at Urbana High School are pulling through and remaining optimistic.

The way many sports would be run this year was unknown until the last minute. Basketball coach Verdell Jones says, “We came to a place where everybody had resolved themselves to believing that we weren’t going to have a season… we didn’t have the necessary preparation period. It was kind of like cramming for exams.”

Zach Boehmke, cross country and track coach, agrees. “So much was up in the air about what we could do and who could participate,” he says.

However, both coaches have seen an increase in teamwork and team spirit. “We’ve learned the importance of teamwork: one person can’t do it by themselves, two people can’t, it takes a whole team,” says Jones.

“I think we’re growing closer together as a team,” says Boehmke.

Although Covid has made the sport difficult, Jones thinks the basketball team is learning from the experience. “One of the blessings for us is to be able to take this game, basketball, and teach them really incredible life lessons… we utilize this year to really galvanize our principles,” he says.

Boehmke believes the difficult situation has given many team members new leadership opportunities. “You can see who’s growing into more of a leader… there’s no longer as much timidness,” he says.

Although Covid has complicated many aspects of life, it has also opened up new and unexpected opportunities to improve, similar to the ones described by Boehmke and Jones.

Boehmke and Jones both show that through their dedication to their teams, they are able to succeed, even in difficult circumstances. Despite the hurdles Covid has created, both coaches are continuing to persevere, and their determination is what allows the sports to continue.