COLLIER COUNTY

Collier County student-athletes learned they don’t have to make individual decisions getting back onto the field because the school district updated its plans.

Collier County Public Schools says the falls sports season will be pushed back, and Aug. 24 is the earliest practices will start.

The activities coordinator at Gulf Coast High School says, if they have to postpone sports and Friday night lights to keep the kids safe they will, it’s the main goal at GCHS.

Although parents and students wish they could get back to normal and play sports, they understand.

“I would love to see it go,” said Anthony Gonzalez, a senior at Golden Gate High School. “Everyone loves getting the grind in, but we can’t because of this pandemic.”

Student-athletes say they are frustrated.

“It just really sucks,” Gonzalez said.

Brandon Balcer is a parent of two. He says he knows contact sports can be dangerous during the coronavirus pandemic.

“You’re at much higher risk when you’re interacting with someone directly,” Balcer said.

And that’s why the supervisor of interscholastic sports and the activity coordinators of Collier County met to discuss pushing back athletics a little bit longer.

“We remember that our students are students first and athletes second, so we felt that date would be the best date for the student-athletes,” said Mark Rosenbalm, the supervisor of interscholastic sports for Collier County Public Schools.

“We want to make sure we can get them in the building, used to all the new protocols and norm, and then get to some time of normalcy for athletics,” said Alan Scott, the activities coordinator for Gulf Coast High School.

Teachers and parents know kids want to hit the fields.

“Kids, in general, they just want to play. They just want to play sports,” said Rodelin Anthony, a former coach and current teach er at Immokalee High School.

But they want to make sure it is as safe as possible.

“We don’t want schools held back,” Balcer said. “But at the same time if it reduces the risk.”

“I think it’s a good idea they pushed it back because anytime is a good time when it’s about trying to control the virus and the pandemic,” Anthony said.

Collier County Public Schools says it’s monitoring the situation, and this date is not set in stone. If they feel the need to extend, they will.

Scott says he thinks the kids understand this is for their safety.

“At the end of the day, they saw what those seniors had to go through last spring,” Scott said. “And I think they are forever grateful, just for having the opportunity to play athletic events, and they understand this can be taken away from them in an instance.”