Charmin Smith and her team figured that they had survived the worst pandemic in 2020-21.
The first month of practice for Cal’s women’s tennis team was held outdoors due to COVID-19 precautions. Each player had to bring her own ball, and they were not permitted to pass it.
Nine games were canceled due to COVID outbreaks on either their team or their opponent. They missed five Pac-12 games. They were ranked 1-16 overall.
Smith stated that Smith was optimistic that things would return to “quote-unquote normal” and that he would be able experience a season with no disruptions and help people get back to health. It hasn’t happened.
This has not been the case for many teams. According to Associated Press research and COVID-19, 420 Division I men’s and 476 Division I women’s games had been canceled or postponed as a result of coronavirus epidemics.
Cal women were among the worst affected, with seven Pac-12 games being dropped from their schedule due to insufficient time. Rescheduling means that the final eight regular-season games for Illinois women will be played over 21 days. However, they will still fall four short to the standard 18 Big Ten games.
Six of the 18 Big West games will be missed by Cal State Bakersfield’s women. IUPUI will only play 17 of its 22 Horizon League matches, while Little Rock will take part in 14 of its 18 Sun Belt Conference contests. These three conferences declare no-contests for missed games and don’t make up the games.
The players have experienced a lot of emotion from the stops and starts. more concern has been expressed about the mental health of all athletes .
The disappointment at not being able play is a common feeling. Players are angry when other teams in the country can play when they cannot. The uncertainty of when and if they will play again can cause anxiety. Because the number of conference games is decreasing, there’s more pressure to win. Because players have lost their conditioning, there is frustration when they come out of a COVID cut. Academically, there is more stress when the rescheduled games are coming in quick succession and there is less class time.
According to coaches, they were available to talk to players experiencing disruptions and helped them build stronger relationships.
Nancy Fahey, Illinois coach, said that if you said that there weren’t any emotions, it’s really an emotion drain.
Cal won nine of its 12 first games and played the rest as planned. Next came the first of three COVID stops, two caused due to positive tests by Cal employees.
The Bears (12-10 and 2-8 Pac-12) only played two games in January. They had to cancel many practices and were short-handed for other players. The Bears have played seven consecutive games since their last pause, but they will only have played 11 of the 18 Pac-12 games. This record will include 12 conference games. One forfeit win was recorded.
Smith stated, “It’s February and we would be a different team if we had more games in January.” “But I’m proud of how we have managed to keep it together. We are not completely broken down and we are still making progress.”
Illinois (6-17, 1-11 Big Ten), played just five games in 45-days. There were players who came and went from COVID isolation, and there was no time for quality practices at the most crucial time of the season.
Fahey stated that “we’re disappointed with this record.” It’s difficult to generate momentum. Coaches shouldn’t make excuses. It’s important that we go out and play, and compete. But it can be difficult if you don’t have a rhythm to our season. We will accept it and try our best.
The men’s teams in Little Rock were hit with COVID pauses and injuries (8-17, 3-10) and IUPUI (2-33, 1-14).
Little Rock coach Darrell Walker stated that his team has used 15 to 16 different starting lineups, and has missed 125 man matches. Seven players were injured in one game. Some of the available players had just recovered from a virus infection.
Walker stated that “You practice hard and the guys become tired very quickly.” “My guys had COVID. It was very bad for them, and it didn’t improve when they returned.
In the offseason COVID-19 struck IUPUI’s first-year coach Matt Crenshaw’s Jaguars team. The Jaguars did not have enough healthy bodies for five-on-five play much of the summer. A player who tested positive for COVID-19 during the season was not allowed to enter athletic department facilities.
Crenshaw explained that they are essentially sitting at home for two to 10 days and then you expect them go out to play.
Due to a series of injuries, the Jaguars have only six healthy players from January, the “Iron Six,” Crenshaw refers to them.
“They are competitive and they’re playing the best basketball that we’ve ever played. He said that they give you everything you need. These are life lessons. Sports can help you with life lessons. They can teach you life lessons.
It’s been two years for the Cal State Bakersfield ladies. Three COVID pauses by the Roadrunners (3-16, 3-8) resulted in seven losses for their team last season. Greg McCall, the coach of the Roadrunners (3-16, 3-8) was diagnosed with COVID-19. He missed two games. The Roadrunners experienced their first pause before Christmas. They had no basketball activity for 20 consecutive days, and then played three games in a 42-day period.
McCall stated, “I never thought we would get hit again with it. Not with the magnitude it struck us.” It really began last season. You thought that this season would be better.
