Football coaches navigate new guidelines

By JEREMY SELLEW

jsellew@yourmvi.com

With many local school boards approving return to play policies, local football teams are returning to the field for summer and off-season workouts under new guidelines set forth by the Center for Disease Control and the state health department.

Coaches and athletes must still maintain appropriate social distancing during workouts, in locker rooms, on sidelines, benches, etc. 

Student-athletes, coaches, officials and training staff are the only people permitted on the field during workouts.

Belle Vernon Area head football coach and athletic director Matt Humbert said the district is doing what every other district is doing since the guidelines are state and federally based.

“We’re practicing the social distancing, using the facemasks when feasible and eliminating the competitive things,” Humbert said. 

While players aren’t going up against each other in drills, there’s plenty of conditioning, position drills and strength training going on.

“We’re doing great from a cardio and strength standpoint. We’ve kind of weened into it,” Humbert said. “For now, honestly, the football stuff is secondary. There’s still so many things you can do without kids touching each other.”

Humbert said one thing he’s preaching to his kids is that the situation with all sports, not just football, is day to day.

“Everything is on the table. We tell the kids that. Our kids know we can have three more really good weeks or it can be shut down in the matter of a day,” Humbert said. 

McKeesport head coach Matt Miller said his team was off to a good start with their off-season workouts until the most recent order came down from Allegheny County officials last week.

The order issued Thursday canceled all activities or events over 25 people for a one-week period beginning Friday.

“We were on the field and things were going really good,” Miller said. “We were trying to abide by all the rules and the kids were real excited to be back. Now they’re bummed because they couldn’t come back this week. Hopefully we’re able to get back at it Monday.”

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