Good morning Bulldog Family!  First, I want to share my sincere best wishes to everyone and hope that you are successfully completing your school year.  Second, I want to emphasize that while sports play an enormous role in society, the wellbeing of all of our global citizens is primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, and beyond.  With this in mind, I wanted to provide my current thoughts on the upcoming season as states begin to reopen.  Due to the governor's order that school buildings and grounds remain closed into June, last week the VHSL announced that it has cancelled all summer workouts and camps.  It is important to note, as we have continuously been reminded, that this is a very fluid situation and everything is subject to change.  I don't expect to know anything for certain until the governor and local authorities make a decision about the fall semester and whether or not school begins on time. 

I am aware that the NFL is testing COVID-19 mask materials for their facemasks and follow the debates going on in college about whether or not they expect to have a football season, so definitely have concerns about how all of this will impact our season.  Impacts from this pandemic have been extensive from industries that manufacture, test, supply, and ship equipment, funding for school activities, social distancing, high risk aged officials and coaches, athletes with potential preexisting health conditions, symptom testing and reporting are just some of the additional considerations that must be resolved legislatively.  In the face of all of these uncertainties, our coaching staff has been holding meetings since April to prepare for the upcoming season as “normal” through virtual meetings.  I have contacted our Director of Student Activities about the potential to host virtual summer camps for players in response to the announcement this week from the VHSL. 

                The focus right now is on finishing the school year and all of the administrative challenges that doing so involves so, combined with awaiting government guidelines, any further details are pending.  At this time, I can only share our staff's approach with you which is to prepare mentally and physically for fall sports to begin as currently scheduled on August 3.  Our first daily practice is scheduled from 2:00-6:30 pm at Westfield High School and we will be ready to adjust as further guidelines are revealed.  Our stadium field has been replaced with a beautiful brand new turf and we greatly look forward to opening it with a wonderful season!  As always, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.  Go Bulldogs!