Masking up for the season

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 8/19/20

A hot summer day had settled in Lone Tree.

A giant fan situated in the doorway leading to the gymnasium at the high school produced a breeze as senior and junior members of the school’s …

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Masking up for the season

Posted

A hot summer day had settled in Lone Tree.

A giant fan situated in the doorway leading to the gymnasium at the high school produced a breeze as senior and junior members of the school’s volleyball team went through a fast-moving workout under the close watch of co-coach Lora Sieverding.

Upstairs, in a classroom, several underclassmen, all wearing masks to cover their faces, listened intently as another co-coach, Sonda Prybil, also wearing a mask, took to a whiteboard to explain volleyball strategies.

One year ago, those girls weren’t wearing masks. No need.

And then COVID-19 hit. A global pandemic not only sent people around the world reaching for masks in order to provide protection for themselves and others, but it changed the sporting world. The Olympics were postponed until 2021. Spring high school sports in Iowa were canceled.

Masks and hand sanitizers are as common on a volleyball court as volleyballs.

Guidelines from the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union strongly encourages masks and physical distancing for all spectators. It won’t be strange to see coaches and referees wearing facial coverings at all times.

“I’d like to just get us through the whole season without any funny business,” Sieverding said.

The signs of a changed world are evident at Lone Tree.

Classroom sessions call for masks.

No more than one practice court is used at one time, meaning the varsity and junior varsity squads often alternate their workouts between the two high school courts.

The outside doors to the gym are left open, which provides additional venting in addition to relieving the building temperatures inside.

And when the team meets together, there are no huddles. Instead, they form a large circle to maintain physical distancing.

Per state requirements, there will be changes in the matches themselves. The teams will not change benches as they normally would do between sets. No more handshakes. Spectators are not allowed in the first two rows of bleachers. Athletes must sanitize their hands every time they leave the court, in addition to between sets and timeouts.

Masks are already taking on a fashion of their own. While some are wearing the blue medical masks or solid black ones, some of the Lone Tree athletes and coaches are wearing masks with a pelican design.

The team mascot masks are sure to come.