"There isn't a playbook for this."
Those six words have been uttered by many in college athletics (and elsewhere) since the outbreak of COVID-19 shut down competition, schools and communities.
By definition, a playbook consists of strategies and plays. With it, coaches/administrators have a plan to carry out policies whether on the field or with administration of a program. Without one, athletics leaders faced the prospect of building something new on the fly with little experience on what might work.
As a "new normal" filtered into the sports world, an important question confronted athletic departments such as at the University of Sioux Falls. How do coaches, strength/conditioning staff and their student-athletes react when their whole world is turned upside down with the advent of a pandemic that end sport seasons and creates an uncommon separation from teammates and friends as well as a campus which had become a second home?
Director of Athletics
Pam Gohl
"For our coaches and student-athletes as well as staff, this pandemic created a bit of a surreal situation," said USF Director of Athletics
Pam Gohl. "The anguish, which included some anger but tremendous anxiety, was expected and understandable. We have tremendous empathy for student-athletes and teams who prepared all year for their seasons and a chance to compete for championships. More than that, these student-athletes and coaches had built relationships and prepared for a season when suddenly they were separated from in-person contact except through virtual means. They had to pick up and go home and finish school through online classes while trying to figure out how to deal with workouts and mentally adjusting to this tough situation," said Gohl.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, it was like a lightning rod had a direct hit on 184 countries. It impacted how people lived, worked and played.
For many if not all in athletics, most perplexing was the loss of interaction with coaches, teammates, faculty and campus friends without any idea when the situation would be resolved. Student-athletes had their sports seasons axed and faced a reality that no restart date was in sight. It was a cessation of everything they had worked for to this point. The new words in the lexicon in athletics and generally in society were "social distancing," "good hygiene – wash your hands," and "stay home."
After the NCAA President and Board of Directors shut down athletic championships immediately on March 12, conferences did likewise soon afterward with all competition for spring shuttered. As a result, training regimens changed. In person contact with student-athletes ended, recruiting was impacted as was the CARA (countable athletic related activities) hours. Soon, the University of Sioux Falls moved to online classes and more adjustment filtered into the lives of USF students.
While students adjusted to online academics, they also faced challenges relating to strength and conditioning. Many student-athletes had gone through winter training. Then this spring, they were sent home without any weight rooms or training facilities available to them. It was not only a new situation but mentally taxing as they strived to find ways to retain the conditioning levels needed to compete in NCAA DII.
Led by Director of Strength & Conditioning/Head Athletic Trainer
Zach Mathers, soon information was provided through email instructions and social media to quell some stress faced by student-athletes. At the same time, head coaches and their staff at USF contacted student-athletes to talk the situation through but with a straight but positive perspective.
In essence, this communication was the beginning of building that new playbook. And, it was one that placed the most emphasis on academics and how student-athletes could manage their classes in a non-traditional way. The coaches were tasked with searching for new and creative ways to keep their student-athletes active and working to maintain conditioning all the while counseling many through some mental challenges brought forward by the uncertainty of a future once mapped out.
The Association for Applied Sport Psychology wrote in a blog on March 19 to students - coaches: "Some common feelings are fear, anxiety, loss, relief, confusion, disappointment, exhaustion, frustration, and anger. In cities and towns across the globe, mandates to stay home and socially distance may cause you to feel physically alone, however, you are not emotionally on an island. Plenty of other people are feeling just like you and it is important to stay virtually connected. Acknowledge what you're feeling, identify those emotions, and work on trying to understand and accept them. Anticipate that your emotions will also likely change over time as the Coronavirus pandemic evolves."
https://appliedsportpsych.org/blog/2020/03/the-covid-19-pandemic-tips-for-athletes-coaches-parents-and-the-sport-community/
Addressing the "new normal" at USF
As Gohl met with coaches in March, a "new normal" was in place but with some of the same focus points. Student-athletes had to come first. The top priority was making sure they were safe and healthy. Then, the student-centered approach meant addressing the physical and mental needs. Gohl was pleased that the coaches and their staff were leaders. But she expected it because it fit the way they have always approached challenges. She had a group addressing an unforeseen challenge with the same grit and focus as they approached their programs when things were "normal."
"I am so proud to say that our coaches stuck together as leaders and worked through this in the best way they knew how. They were creative in their approaches, offered support and love and continuing connection to student-athletes as well as their colleagues," said Gohl.
Work plans were created and put into place in which coaches, as well as staff, tirelessly worked to provide virtual support to student-athletes for academics, nutrition, training, career development, and mental and physical health.
"The toughest thing for us was just not having that face-to-face daily interaction that we are used to," said USF Softball Head Coach
Shannon Pivovar. "We implemented a variety of things and utilized different avenues with it. We love the interaction of having the kids in our office and checking in daily that way," said Pivovar whose team was 11-8 and just finished its Florida Spring Break Trip when their season abruptly ended.
Pivovar and the other USF coaches were creative in their new found approach as the contacts with student-athletes had to be immediate and frequent. Among the ideas was one in which the USF Softball Team shared a video on Twitter in which various team members shared their day. They also had a tik tok video as well as numerous other social media posts in which they shared hobbies, recipes and more. Many of these posts offered a bit of levity including those featuring their pets.
Others showcased how they could have fun while meeting the challenge of conditioning and studying. Always, USF student-athletes were upbeat and positive.
According to Soccer Head Coach
Brittany Domino, a weekly schedule for student-athletes was created as a way of incorporating a bit of the routine into the schedules of soccer players.
"We tried to keep the structure of their weeks as close to what they were doing as we could. We have had to alter lifting due to a lack of equipment and change practices to be all individual work," said Domino.
Beyond that, Domino developed dialogue with student-athletes through texting, calling, email and social media shares.
"We are currently doing a day in the life of our student-athletes while at home on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. This provides a time for each player to show what they are doing while at home. It also helps them stay engaged with each other. We are also having a meeting this week to come up with some team activities we can do online such as team painting, games online or small group chats," she said.
Domino also noted that she talked to student-athletes about how they are working through this new time in their lives.
"One of the main things we are doing now is trying to provide opportunities for our players to talk about how they are feeling. We don't have a lot of information about what is to come and we can't really change the situation they are in so we are just allowing them time to talk about their frustrations. At this time, we are just trying to listen to them and jump in and help when we can," said Domino.
USF Women's Basketball Head Coach
Travis Traphagen and Assistant Coach
Carley Jeffery suggested student-athletes connect to each other and as often as possible.
"It is important for our student-athletes to take their mental well-being very seriously during this time, and seeing teammates on a regular basis will be very helpful to that," said Jeffery. "We are also working with our strength and conditioning staff to ensure that our student-athletes are staying in shape physically. Not all of our student-athletes have access to a basketball hoop, so we are encouraging them to use this time to improve their ball handling skills and make sure that they are in the best shape possible when they are able to return to gyms. There are many things out of our control right now, but we are hoping that our student-athletes can still use this as a growth opportunity," she said.
Jeffery also noted that family interaction has been a plus and aided in the mental adjustment to the "new normal."
"Our student-athletes are spending a lot of time with their families right now. We have heard from some of them who are getting cooking lessons from their parents, and many who are having regular game nights with families. We have a lot of dog-lovers on our team, so I imagine they are loving time with their family pets as well," she said.
Pivovar noted another aspect – sense of loss of a season – and addressed it through her communications with the softball team.
"We handled the end of the spring season - the way it was cut right in the middle - kind of like a lost loved one. We did some grief stuff, provided our kids with coping strategies, and just provided an ear to listen," said Pivovar.
Throughout the spring, Pivovar has recognized and worked through the end of the season with photos and graphics on social media in which each game day had recognition. And, her messaging included photos and notes about seniors.
"Spring sports are in a little different boat as we now will go another full year without playing - so we are being careful with the amount of stuff we push at them in terms of softball. Taking this a little more like an extended "individuals" time or extra summer in terms of growing physically and mentally so we are faster and stronger when we come back in the fall," said Pivovar.
Like other coaches, Pivovar noted the strength and conditioning connection, facilitated by Mathers, has aided significantly in this process.
"Coach Mathers has been great with getting our kids workout plans that they can do from their own home (knowing everyone has access to different things) so we encourage them to do that. Those that have access to hitting/softball options we want to get out and do some softball stuff to stay in softball shape," said Pivovar.
Additionally, each week (Assistant) Coach (Chris) Aggen comes up with a physical challenge they have to do that we compete against the team. Last week it was some ab/shoulder work as they worked their way up and down a softball bat, this week it is how far can you run in 20 minutes? Just something fun to keep them moving," said Pivovar.
Throughout the athletic department, examples of how coaches have interacted with student are varied but always focused on being united – one family.
For example, Mathers challenged student-athletes to use Instagram to show a creative way of doing pull-ups. There were other suggestions in that same fun but somewhat serious vein.
As the spring ends and summer comes, USF Head Football Coach
Jon Anderson has been impressed by the student-athletes who have shown resiliency and focus through a trying time.
"I think our kids certainly are resilient. There are 80-plus different situations with our guys. We have connected on a continuing basis and in various ways but the key has been to keep it constant. We know that the relationships that we have built will carry us through," added Anderson, whose coaching staff meets twice a week through Zoom to discuss the program and reach out to student-athletes on the team as well as recruits.
Anderson noted that the team does group snapchats, holds weekly FCA meetings with FCA state director Brian Hanson, have one on one talks as much as possible through messages that incorporates video technology. He also challenged team members to set personal and social goals and work to carry them through.
"At the end of the day, what we have to do is have conversations with our kids. I know this - they are working hard. They are staying connected with each other and they are focused on doing what is needed to be ready to go when we get the chance to get back together. It is a challenge, no doubt, but we will work through it," he said.
Men's Basketball Head Coach
Chris Johnson echoed the words of his colleagues. "We are talking with them and sharing information about training and how to get out and do what is needed. I am impressed by our guys. They are really a focused group," he said.
Baseball Coach
Grant Hieb also noted that his staff is striving to have contact daily. "We lost our season or most of it but our guys know they have to keep working. It is tough right now. We just want to get back together," he said.
According to USF Swimming Head Coach
Chris Hamstra, interaction with his team included the use of email, GROUPME along with a Google sheet check list on what needs to happen. "Then, we had a video chat to assess them further," said Hamstra.
"Right now I'm trying to add as little stress to their life as possible and focus on small doable daily tasks to help them unwind and prepare for next year," said Hamstra, whose team includes a number of international students which can also create some issues. Yet, they have navigated those problems by sharing their stories and thoughts with one another and throughout the spring. And, having a bit of fun in the process.
Track and Field/Cross Country Director
Doug Petersen has had his staff reach out in all ways. They have posted successes of the season on Twitter and Facebook, utilizing images from special winning moments during the season.
"We are trying to stay as connected as we can," said Petersen. "Our student-athletes have been strong in their focus and positive. We are blessed to have young men and women like this at USF," he said.
USF Volleyball has been creative and brought other NSIC teams into their social media shares and communication.
"Our team has put together fun video content and actually reached out to opposing programs within the NSIC to challenge them to do the same. These times are not the most fun, but it is great to see our athletes coping optimistically," said USF Head Volleyball Coach
Joel McCartney.
Bottom line is that coaches are staying in touch. But this distance separation wears on everyone. All of them just want their student-athletes back on campus. They want to see them.
"While we would love to be in the Stewart Center training with our student-athletes right now, we understand that there are things bigger than the game of basketball," said Jeffery. "We are making the necessary adjustments and maintaining a positive attitude in these difficult times. We can't wait to get back in the gym with our team, and we are excited for their renewed excitement for the game as well."
USF Golf Head Coach
Tavia Rutherford noted that staying positive in a difficult situation was critical for the golf teams.
"Each year is about adapting and adjusting your strategy to best situate your team to be competitive in the conference and central region. Therefore, this 'new normal' just adds to our ability to be creative and innovative moving forward. It is a new challenge, but I am seeing it as an opportunity to grow and further impact my student-athletes in a positive way."
Rutherford noted that the golf staff encourage their student-athletes to work through both physical and mental aspects.
"Golf is an individual sport which gives us the opportunity to social distance while still being able to work on specific parts of our game without all being together," said Rutherford. "This personalized approach was already something that was implemented in our program before COVID-19. Now, we just need to be more creative in how we communicate and challenge each other to get better during this time. Losing our spring season has been tough, but it's important that we use this time to come back even stronger and prepared to accomplish the goals we set previously," she said.
Beyond the team interactions, coaches have had to deal with recruiting in a new way. Without the ability to see them in person, coaches utilize their mobile devices – text and phone – to stay in contact. Social media messaging to them is another effort several programs have put in place. Football has individualized social media posts and other sports are integrating similar approaches while relying on the tried and true method of talking by the phone and sharing texts.
"It isn't easy but we know what we face," said Johnson. "We just want to stay united and get through this as a family does in crisis. When we stay together, we will be alright," he said.
Patience is certainly a virtue that many have had to incorporate much more significantly into their lives. Social distancing and other mitigation will continue and test everyone's patience even further. Yet, the opportunity to be together one day in the future will ease a lot of tension and bring back those smiles now only being shared virtually.
Perhaps, USF Head Tennis Coach
Kevin Grebin captured the emotions best.
"I miss my team. I just want to see them soon," he said.
For that you don't need a playbook; just a smile and maybe an elbow bump.
