In a year filled with turmoil and uncertainty, sports were something that many students thought we would lose. Despite the challenges, spring sports practices and competitions were a core part of this semester. Here’s a look into how Fieldston overcame the obstacles to allow for a spring sports season…
As the campus blooms and the weather improves, we often look forward to spring sports. This year, it was unclear how the season would look. However, in late April, we received the news that we would be having competitions. I recently sat down with Gus Ornstein, the athletics director, to discuss the efforts that made this possible.
This year, Fieldston student-athletes had the ability to compete twice, once with Riverdale and once with Horace Mann. Coach Ornstein spoke about the connection between the hilltop schools, and how that made it ideal to compete with them. “We all have very similar philosophies, very similar protocols. We work really well together, as schools and as athletic directors… we thought we could really get it right by keeping it amongst the three of us.” So despite the hiccups, it was decided that each team would have two sporting events this spring.
Even before the announcement about competitions came, the decision to allow both cohorts to attend practice had already been implemented. Logistically, this presented a lot of issues. Primarily, remote students would need to get to campus. That meant increased and improved communication and an added effort from students, caregivers and coaches alike. Perhaps most important during this time was understanding from all parties. As many of us have noticed, coaches have been flexible and thoughtful when it comes to practice times and lateness. In addition to flexibility and logistics, communication has been crucial in this abnormal season.
The changes in communication this year were both the biggest challenge and one of the few benefits of the hy-flex model. With CDC guidelines changing constantly, it was difficult to determine what the safest options were for competitions this year. However, the increase in virtual communication made it easier for coaches and schools to contact each other. They were able to connect within a matter of minutes as opposed to scheduling a meeting around everyone’s distinct practice schedule.
Within our school, communication was also crucial. From sending out emails about testing requirements to notifying people about the weather before they got to school, the separation of our school made many things more difficult. If people were commuting to school during flex time or after classes, they needed to be notified about issues or cancellations before they started their commute. Getting hundreds of students tested weekly was also no easy feat. However, in order to give students one last season in this insane year, the athletics department made it happen.
Amid all of the difficulties of this year, many of the differences that have come about have presented new opportunities for growth. We’ve seen more comradery between junior varsity and varsity players due to the mixing of the teams, and students taking advantage of the new schedule to try sports they normally wouldn’t have. Going forward, as more players and coaches get fully vaccinated and we slowly return to normal sports, this will certainly be a season to remember.
A huge thank you to all of our players, coaches and essential workers for making this season possible!
