Rise in COVID-19 cases prompts some districts to cancel summer camps

By JUSTIN LUCKEY
RSL

Just when it looked like there was a light at the end of the tunnel, COVID-19 has once again put the brakes on high school athletics.

Just a little more than a week after being allowed by the University Interscholastic League to open summer and conditioning camps,

Brownsville ISD, along with Weslaco ISD, Rio Hondo ISD, Donna ISD, San Benito CISD, La Feria ISD, Los Fresnos CISD and many others, all abruptly closed their camps earlier this week in the wake of a rise in positive cases of the coronavirus across the Valley and state.

Meanwhile, some programs, such as Edinburg CISD, decided to simply not begin camps in the first place.

Still, others such as Harlingen CISD have decided to proceed with extreme caution.

“We need to make sure we follow all the protocols and be realistic, and know that there are things out of our control. That’s why it is so important we tell these kids how important it is to continue to practice social distancing, and be vigilant or it could cause us to shut down. That’s the last thing we want,” said Harlingen High head football coach Manny Gomez.

Despite extreme precautions and regulation, Gomez said the possibility of getting sick has affected the camp’s numbers. According to Gomez, Harlingen High had around 270 participants the first week of camp, which began on June 8, but by June 16 the number had dropped to around 210.

“It’s our second week starting and our numbers were low today because of what’s going on. There’s a lot of spikes here in the Valley and it’s definitely understood that parents keep their kids home,” Gomez said.

Meanwhile across town at Harlingen South, head football coach Brian Ricci said, “Going into last week we really didn’t have an idea of what we were going to get, but I’m very pleased. We actually had more than anticipated, getting about 130-140 kids a day.”

During camp, all athletes, trainers and staff comply with UIL regulations and guidelines, including constantly remaining at least six feet apart from each other, using their own individual water bottles and wearing face masks.

However, there are still challenges involved.

“The most difficult one has been the kids actually having to do things with their masks,” said Gomez. “We have transition periods and that’s when they have to have their masks on, but when they compete, they can slide them off.”

Ricci added, “The most difficult part is the social distancing before or after the workout because these kids are used to seeing each other and hanging out.”