By Delaney Crawford<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hood College\u2019s athletic department enters phase 3 of its plan to allow teams to continue to train this semester despite COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phases were planned so each sport could eventually play inter-squad scrimmages this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phase 1 prohibited ball passing of any kind and required players to stay 6 feet apart at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phase 2 allowed ball passing between teammates, but still required them to stay 6 feet apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every coach and athlete wanted to get to Phase 3, which allows players full contact and full play while wearing a mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both phases 1and 2 had to be 14 days long, with seven practices taking place within that time frame. With both phases being so long, athletes were relieved to reach phase 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Women\u2019s soccer was one of the first teams to reach phase 3. On Sept. 28, the women\u2019s team was able to play full-out soccer and the team was so excited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe were all actually excited to go to soccer because we knew that it would be normal,\u201d junior midfielder and forward Colby Painter said. \u201cThe phases were smart and worked well, but we were all just waiting to get to phase three so that we could play.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While phases 1 and 2 were initially not requiring athletes to wear mask, Athletic Director Susan Kolb made the decision in mid-September that masks must be worn in all phases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe decided that we wanted to be more conservative since, while everyone was supposed to be 6 feet apart, it was hard to enforce that with some drills and games that teams were playing,\u201d Kolb said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This upcoming week, all fall sports will have entered phase 3 and will begin inter-squad scrimmages every Saturday. The following week, the winter sports will follow and then spring sports will enter phase three last, because their season starts later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After all teams have entered phase three, they will continue with the same regulations until the end of the semester. Each team will also stay wearing masks for the rest of the semester.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI trusted the plan we had in place that if followed it could get us through the end of the semester and so far, so good,\u201d Kolb said. \u201cWe put our trust in our players and coaches and will continue to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"