After a fall and winter sports season with COVID-19, the GCDS athletics department is ready to take on the fast approaching spring sports season.

With a successful fall sports season and a winter season cut short, many at the school were left wondering what the athletics department has planned for our 2021 spring sports season, but also what the state and other schools have planned for this season as well. 

Our Athletics department has worked tirelessly during these difficult times to try and provide a successful, fun, and safe spring sports season for our student-athletes. The plan created by the FAA and the schools that compete in the league, is to have a spring season similar to our fall season which would allow for our school to compete against other programs in the FAA. “Given the programs are all outdoors, the league feels comfortable with following the State guidelines and protocols while having friendly competitions against the other schools. Most games may still happen on weekends to allow for easier transportation, but our hope is to get contests against the other league schools.”(Tim Helstein – Athletics Director) Mr. Helstein believes that there will be a full spring season that will include competition with other schools starting after spring break. 

Mr.Helstein and the Athletics department have also worked on the precautions they will take to try and have a season without the presence of COVID-19. It is always the priority of the athletics department to safely provide opportunities for athletes to take the field during these unprecedented times. “We will follow State guidelines around the best measures of safety. The school will also evaluate other areas such as fan attendance and transportation to make sure we are doing the best we can to keep our athletes and community as safe as possible. I have a feeling that the precautions will resemble the fall when we played other outdoor contests.” The athletics department hopes to bring much of the Fall season’s approach to this upcoming spring season. 

While the Athletics department hopes to have a full season with competitive play against other FAA schools, there is still some uncertainty with contact sports such as lacrosse which are considered high-risk sports. Like football in the fall season, many athletes are wondering whether spring sports that have contact such as lacrosse will have a modified form of play like football did in their 2020 season. “That is to be seen. We are working with the State to figure out if sports like boys lacrosse can be modified in order to take it out of the “High Risk” category.” (Tim Helstein – Athletics director) 

There are high hopes that there will be a full, successful season this spring. The athletics department’s continuous efforts to provide an athletics season for its athletes is a top priority along with maintaining a safe environment for our school community. Last year’s spring sports season was cut short by the beginning of COVID-19 and Mr.Helsteing is hoping to regain the season our student-athletes lost last year. “My one goal is to make sure we give every student-athlete the opportunity to experience the team comradery that comes with playing spring sports. Last year we lost the season due to COVID. I hope to regain that lost time and bring back the joy and pride of athletics to the community. Spring sports is a season like no other. I love starting out in the cold, wintery days, and ending the season on the brink of summer. I’m eager to get our first Upper School Spring Season happening!” (Tim Helstein – Athletics director)

picture:(GCDS SmugMug)