According to the College of Lake County website, sports events have been canceled until further notice because of COVID-19.
This is to adhere to social distance recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control to reduce the spread of the virus.
Photo depicts Jim Love. Photo courtesy of clclancers.com
“The more people an individual interacts with at a gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading,” the CDC says.
Although all sporting events are currently canceled, certain sports practices have been allowed due to the ability to practice them in a socially distanced environment.
Jim Love, the coach of CLC’s Tennis teams, discussed how practices had been altered to keep players safe during the pandemic.
“Practices have changed due to COVID-19,” Love said. “We require players to wear masks when not actively playing on the court. Players are screened before practice with temperature checks and pre-practice questions. Players must maintain social distances and only touch the tennis balls that are issued to them.”
While tennis practices are still being allowed at the college, sports such as basketball and baseball are not currently approved to continue training during the pandemic.
“The decision to allow tennis to have a season this year was a decision that needed to be made by several organizations,” Love said. “The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference, and College of Lake County were just three of the organizations that approved tennis, but not all other sports, for play this fall.”
As of Sept. 9, sports approved to continue practice by CLC include tennis, golf, and cross country.
All other sports practices are canceled until further notice. This includes basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, and softball.
Billy Friedman, a tennis team player, gave his thoughts regarding the cancellation of sporting events.
“I understand why contact sports were canceled,” he said. “It is disappointing, especially for all the hard work and dedication that goes into athletics at this level.”
Caelah Palumbo, a Women’s Basketball player, spoke on how game cancellation would affect the players.
“I think for some people, it will change their work ethic,” Palumbo said. “But for me, now that I have more time, I can work harder. I have more time to get better. You have to look at it both ways.”
While both Friedman and Palumbo appear to be disappointed about the event cancellations, they seem to be taking it very well.
Photo depicts John Bongiorno. Photo courtesy of clclancers.com
John Bongiorno, the coach of CLC’s Women’s Basketball team, explained his thoughts regarding the new practice guidelines.
“There are people who are in ICU’s gasping for what may be their final breaths,” Bongiorno said. “They are alone without family and friends there to comfort them. There are health care professionals working 18-hour shifts. So a little inconvenience as a shorter season or different protocols to follow pale in comparison, and I hope our athletes realize that.”
While CLC sports protocols have temporarily been changed, this change can attempt to guarantee coaches, players, and fans’ safety.
