Florida Coaches Manage Teams Through COVID-19 Pandemic

By Todd Grasley for DyeStat

Schools are shut down, tracks locked and sports seasons around the country are either in limbo or already eliminated.

Athletes in Florida were able to get in a month of competition before the Coronavirus (COVID-19) halted the sports world.

The FHSAA, the state’s governing body, has yet to cancel spring sports, pinning the decision to the governor's school closure through May 3. With that outcome waiting in the wings, three prominent coaches in the state shared how they are keeping their athletes mentally and physically prepared. 

Carmen Jackson of Miami Northwestern, Mike Rivera of The Bolles School in Jacksonville, and Dave Halliday of Flagler Palm Coast answered some pressing questions during this prolonged period of social distancing. As of Wednesday, April 15, the state had confirmed more than 22,500 Coronavirus cases and nearly 600 deaths. 

How did the season start off for you?

Jackson: As you know, Miami Northwestern is the host of Louie Bing (Invitational), which is held yearly on the third Friday/Saturday in February. Well, this year the meet was canceled on that Saturday, the day of the finals, due to the inclement weather. On that Friday, the meet was going well with some outstanding performances and some records being broken, setting up an expected spectacular day for the finals. Well, it was a big let down for all the seniors in the meet that had high hopes of participating in their last Louie Bing, with a chance to show the college recruiters what they had to offer. So the year started off strange, as the Louie Bing had never been canceled. 

As we moved on to the next couple weeks of track and field, it got even stranger when the GMAC finals were canceled on that Thursday, because of the virus.  But the higher-ups intervened on that Thursday, stating that the meet was canceled prematurely, and rescheduled the meet for that Friday. Great for the seniors, but it came with seniors having to give up their senior picnic, which was on that Friday as well. It also forced the juniors to choose between whether to participate in the GMAC finals or participate in their Junior Extravaganza, which was held that night in Key Biscayne. What a way to kick off a season of track and field. My team and most of the kids in the state are in what I call a 'whirlwind.' With the state in a state of emergency, it has taken away some of the athletes' way of life. 

What was the mood of the team when they first heard the season was going to be postponed?

Rivera: Of course, there was a disappointment and a lot of confusion upon hearing the news. The team had just finished the Bulldog Classic and we had our sights set on the FSU Relays, the Pepsi Florida Relays, and the State Series. We just needed to regroup and move forward.

Jackson: When it came down to the season being postponed, at first the mood was very hopeful for the first couple of weeks because we were able to get some training in. Then the boom came! No training allowed and all parks, schools, tracks and gyms closed. So now we have no place to continue to work out. Now my seniors are all in panic mode. Some of my juniors are saying to me now I understand why you always say each year coach, 'Leave it all on the track every season. Don’t say I’m just a freshman or sophomore I have time.' No one would ever believe we would be experiencing this, where the whole world has been put on hold with a whole lot of limitations.

What is the communication like with your team during this time?

Jackson: I am in contact with my team daily with lots of encouragement and hope. I am telling my seniors to keep the faith because even if they lose the rest of the season, this program has history and tradition, which would still give them room to be recruited with the marks they already have. I have given them ways to continue training; inside or in their yards doing body strengthening exercises, by FaceTiming with each other doing various exercises together, YouTube, and working with one of my old track athletes who is now a personal trainer through FaceTime. 

They are really keeping hope alive through daily contact. It’s really tough for the seniors. They have lost Prom, Grad Weekend, Graduation Ceremony, Senior Night, and not to forget probably no yearbook for keepsake memories and maybe no STATE TRACK and FIELD MEET. So it’s hard for them. Many have forgotten your senior year is what you have worked hard for. It is their last mile in high school. So we will try and make it the best we know how and that is by being tough Bulls!

Rivera: I have started a leadership group with the distance guys. Each student/athlete in this group is responsible to keep in touch and communicate with 3-4 teammates. They discuss topics such as how training is going and how they are handling distance learning. This is all geared toward letting everyone know that we still care about them even though we cannot meet face to face. In addition, I meet with the leadership group on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday through our Schoology Conference Group.

What do you tell your athletes in terms of training and staying in shape? 

Rivera: I (and Bolles) am blessed to be associated with a great group of coaches. The coaches of each discipline have been in constant communication with their athletes. While emphasizing social distancing, each group has been given guidelines to stay active and fit. For the distance group, I give them two workouts a week to get in prior to the virtual races. They have been very good at completing these and reporting. This week, we started watching and analyzing track races to identify good racing strategies. It is more difficult for field events and hurdlers, but there has been a focus on general fitness, strength and core.

Specifically on the distance side, I have been fortunate enough to have contacts in Indiana (I moved to Florida from Indiana) and they have started a virtual meet series, which they are calling the Indiana Grassroots Series. This is what the running community is all about as there have been teams from IN, IL, MI, FL, UT, MS and even Thailand. As I write this, we are on Week 4. I believe that this has given the boys (and girls) something to focus on while we wait on something official from the FHSAA concerning the state series.

Halliday: It is difficult and frustrating for all involved, coaches and athletes. I have sent out the "weekly workouts" for each event group every Sunday/Monday since the pandemic started. However, the track and all public parks and trails are closed so that makes it difficult unless athletes are sheltered elsewhere and do have access. I have given mine alternatives and the freedom to modify any and all workouts.

I have supplied them with: bridge workouts, beach workouts (although not allowed in Flagler at this time ... in Daytona you can exercise on the beach), circuit and crossfit style workouts with weights and with bodyweights only and that is pretty much what we can do. Coaches are not allowed to meet with athletes. We are allowed to communicate and send workouts. We had a team Zoom meeting/get-together last week.

The FHSAA has yet to cancel the season. What are your thoughts on that?

Jackson: I respect our FHSAA. They are the ones who are keeping hope alive. I am hoping right along with them and so are my coaches and team. This program has gone a step further by telling the seniors that things happen for a reason and sometimes we don’t have all the answers. But we have begun talking about getting ready to set their mark for their college careers. They all are aware of what Miami Northwestern alumni have done in their college careers (Olympians, All-Americans, and college graduates). I am just hoping to we will be able to have a college send-off for all the seniors.

Rivera: If we get some type of meet in on a track with other people, then that will be a positive moment for all athletes in the state. The likelihood of this happening is slim, but there is still a chance. At this point in time, the guys are training as if we will have meets sometime in May or June. Even if we don’t, they know that track benefits cross country and cross country benefits track. We want to make sure that we get all the benefits out of track while it is too soon to transition to cross country. As they get better as individuals then they will make the team better. 

What have you heard from college coaches in the last few weeks as it pertains to recruiting and how they are evaluating kids?

Jackson: I have talked to many college coaches in these last couple of weeks. They too are on unfamiliar ground. The college coaches are facing as many obstacles as are we, with not having an outdoor season as well. With NCAA giving seniors this year back, seniors are now in a dilemma whether to return to school compete or go on to embark on the next phase of their life. Then you have some colleges that don’t have the money in their budget to return those seniors and bring in recruits. As I see it we are all in this together. As I speak with them, I am telling them as they continue to recruit this year, which opens back up on Wednesday, they need to trust the high school coaches opinions pertaining to a recruit. 

This year most of the senior high school athletes have not reached their peak, because of this Mr.19 Virus as I call it. This means next year they might have brought out more coaching strategies, making them better coaches, where they might have to develop that underdeveloped student-athlete because of the incomplete track season.

Rivera: I know the junior year is crucial but a lot of them won't have that. For the seniors on the bubble, who may not have committed or signed yet, they have a couple of meets more than most this season, but not a ton. Coach Carlson discussed this a little bit. He did state that the situations are different depending on the school. For Notre Dame, the recruiting process for current seniors was pretty much over for them as their application deadlines have already passed. For juniors (on the distance side), there will be a focus on performances in big meets such as State, Foot Locker and Nike.

Essentially, we can only control what we can control. At some point in time, we all need to see how we respond when things don’t go the way we envision or want them to go. Keep finding ways to make yourself better. It is not any one moment, but the journey that these athletes will remember if they don’t pursue track in college.

Your programs are always very successful. Great programs have great coaches. What advice or words of encouragement would you give athletes during this time?

Rivera: Realize what you can control and what you cannot. Stay positive. Don’t lose sight of the goals that you still have. Use this time to challenge yourself and enjoy the time with your family.

Jackson: I would like to say to all student-athletes across the state, use this year as a learning life lesson. Appreciate what gifts GOD has given you and never take it for granted. Always be your best in all that you do, because we never know what our tomorrow brings.

Halliday: It is really tough to not be coaching or be around people and students in general. But this is where we are and what we need to do. I truly feel for the 2020 seniors. But we will adapt and progress through this pandemic.

"We will prevail.” ~ Winston Churchill