NJSIAA assesses the pandemic – we’re at the halfway point

By Steve Shohfi

President, NJSIAA Executive Committee

March 12, 2021

This past year has been extremely difficult, in every sector of our society. We’ve been confronted by entirely new challenges, along with problems many of us had never even imagined.

For NJSIAA, it began in March 2020, when we first shared COVID-19 updates asking member schools, scholastic-athletes, and fans to follow rapidly evolving guidelines. Our various tournaments moved along … until March 12, when the boys and girls basketball championships were cancelled. Just a few days later, on March 16, the entire spring season was paused. On May 4, it was officially cancelled.

Those were difficult times, and the pandemic has continued to devastate New Jersey well beyond cancelled competitions. Heartbreaking isn’t too strong a word, as 24,000 state residents have lost their lives. Another 815,000 of our citizens have been infected, and many continue struggling with ongoing symptoms.

Yet, even in the pandemic’s darkest days, there were glints of hope. On May 22, just 18 days after the spring season was lost, my predecessor Mary Liz Ivins introduced NJSIAA’s plan for an eventual return to high school sports. By July 13, our student-athletes were able to cautiously begin summer workouts. That was eight months ago, and in the ensuing time we’ve minimized the significance of championships in favor of providing equal participation opportunities in every sports for every athlete.

All told, 80,000 of New Jersey’s scholastic athletes participated in what we called Season 1 (cross-country, field hockey, football, girls tennis, soccer); 35,000 took part in Season 2 (basketball, bowling, fencing, ice hockey); and 30,000 competed during Season 2A (swimming/diving, winter track & field). In addition, we’re projecting 20,000 will play during Season 3 (girls volleyball, gymnastics, wrestling) as we progress into the spring. Our commitment is to providing spring sports in as normal a manner as possible and sticking to schedules as announced. After all, it’s simply not feasible to modify seasons, or even dates.

The situation’s improving, largely because an increasing number of people have been vaccinated. And, the inoculation rate will continue to accelerate, giving more and more people the confidence to resume day-to-day activities. It’s good news, but it’s imperative that everyone realize this pandemic isn’t over.

In fact – speaking from an NJSIAA and scholastic athletics perspective – I’d suggest that our fight against COVID-19 is at about the halfway point. We still have lots of figurative ground to cover, and it’s likely that unanticipated challenges will still arise.

Our primary challenge may be complacency. NJSIAA has established a framework for moving forward toward and through the 2021-2022 school year. But, if we let down our guard, problems we currently consider to be in our past could re-appear. In essence, if we want to maximize opportunities available to athletes and teams, we need to stay focused and maintain a healthy respect for the dangers posed by the virus.

For our student-athletes, concerns absolutely remain. While adults are being vaccinated in significant numbers, no plan exists for inoculating young people. So, until we have scientifically-endorsed governmental protocols for vaccinating those under the age of 18, we need to be mindful that whether in the classroom, on the playing field, or in social situations, young people will conduct their daily lives without the medical protection so many of us already enjoy.

Even for mature adults with the life experiences to help them cope with crisis-level circumstances, this past year has been taxing. But, while student-athletes aren’t adults and haven’t fully matured, they still have been immersed in as frightening and disappointing a year as living memory can recall. And the rigors of this experience will leave marks – not so much on bodies as on their mental health. Many will continue struggling for years to come, and parents, teachers, and coaches will need to help this generation find firmer footing.  Happily, research indicates adolescents who’ve played sports during the pandemic are less likely than their non-athlete peers to report symptoms of anxiety or depression.

Also, let’s not forget that kids attend school on an ongoing basis to learn and be as prepared as possible for the future. And, scholastic athletics is unquestionably a direct extension of the classroom. Unfortunately, the pandemic has disrupted the traditional rhythms of our schools, to the extent that many students haven’t physically entered a classroom in a year. Despite the remarkable efforts of educators related to virtual instruction, our young people will need time to re-acclimate to exclusively in-person educational experiences. It’s going to be an ongoing process; we need to be mindful of giving each individual the time they need.

While we’re moving in a decidedly positive direction, much work remains before COVID-19 is consigned to history. Patience and creativity will continue to be essential because of the many remaining obstacles, and there will be many days when we’ll still feel frustrated or deflated. At the same time, I’m confident we’ll continue working together successfully to keep our kids safe and playing the games they love.

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