
Following the cancellation of the Little League World Sequence and its regional tournaments on Thursday, native Little Leagues are attempting to determine a option to play ball this summer season. Daryn Slover/Solar Journal
It’s been eight weeks because the sports activities world got here to a halt due to the coronavirus pandemic.
No video games. No practices. No cheering.
The whole spring high school season was canceled. School spring seasons had been halted. Golf programs are actually open, however with restrictions that may make it not possible for the Maine State Golf Affiliation to carry any of its weekly tournaments in Might. Tennis courts are closed. There are nearly day by day bulletins of leisure occasions being canceled.
With summer season approaching, coaches and athletes are hoping that the video games may resume. Highschool coaches are planning summer-league seasons, all of the whereas ready for the most recent suggestions from the Maine CDC and the governor’s workplace. Final week, Gov. Janet Mills released a four-stage plan to reopen Maine. It included tentatively growing the restrict on public gatherings to from 10 to 50 folks by June 1.

Yarmouth Excessive ladies’ lacrosse coach Dorothy Holt: “Each coach I’ve talked to and texted with is, like, let’s do one thing for these ladies. Particularly the seniors. I’d love to offer them some kind of correct ship off. On the sphere.” Derek Davis/Workers Photographer
“I feel the whole lot is adaptable, however after all we now have to observe the governor’s suggestions, the CDC, and be secure. The precedence is to be secure first, and to play is second,” mentioned Yarmouth Excessive ladies’ lacrosse coach Dorothy Holt. “We now have to take a look at a variety of issues, however each coach I’ve talked to and texted with is, like, let’s do one thing for these ladies. Particularly the seniors. I’d love to offer them some kind of correct ship off. On the sphere.”
However it’s a tough balancing act, with many questions to contemplate. And people questions, mentioned William Heinz, the chair of the Maine Principals’ Affiliation’s Sports activities Medication Committee, should be answered earlier than any video games must be performed.
“At this level we now have to proceed to observe CDC tips with social distancing and restricted contact,” mentioned Heinz, a retired Portland orthopedist who additionally served as chair of the Nationwide Federation of State Excessive College Associations medical board. “Conditioning and weight coaching and perhaps ability work could possibly be allowed. So far as getting complete groups collectively to scrimmage, I don’t suppose that’s an applicable factor to do. We don’t have sufficient data.
“Our strategy from the MPA is that, we’re going to be extra cautious. We don’t care if somebody seems to be again a yr from now and says we had been means too cautious. I’d somewhat have that than somebody get sick and a complete crew uncovered.”
The MPA’s Interscholastic Administration Committee will meet Thursday to start discussions on summer season tips. Usually, the MPA doesn’t get entangled with summer season actions, aside from implementing a two-week hands-off interval at summer season’s finish. However this yr is not like some other.

Usually, the Maine Principals’ Affiliation doesn’t get entangled with summer season actions involving highschool athletes. However this yr is not like some other. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal
“We are going to begin the dialog about working with colleges, working with the Division of Schooling, working with the governor’s workplace, working with the CDC, on suggestions round summer season programming, based mostly on the very best data accessible,” mentioned MPA Govt Director Mike Burnham. “I help the plan that the governor introduced, to section these actions in. If we observe that very same philosophy, if it’s secure for perhaps two or three youngsters to be in the identical space, perhaps that’s a begin earlier than you do full crew actions or earlier than you’ve got a camp. These are the discussions we’re going to have.”
Nevertheless it’s not simply highschool sports activities officers who’re having discussions. Following the cancellation of the Little League World Sequence and its regional tournaments on Thursday, native Little Leagues are attempting to determine a option to play ball in 2020. Native working golf equipment are canceling races, the most recent being the weekly Again Cove Sequence in Portland. Tennis tournaments are being canceled.
Sports activities camps at schools are being canceled, or no less than postponed till later in the summertime.
Right here’s a have a look at what colleges and organizations are attempting to do to maintain folks lively this summer season.
HIGH SCHOOL SUMMER LEAGUES

The coaches behind the CMG Mortgage summer season Wooden Bat League consider they’ll play video games this summer season. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Workers Photographer
Veteran highschool baseball coaches Mike D’Andrea and Mike Rutherford consider they’ll nonetheless function their CMG Mortgage summer season Wooden Bat League this yr. They need to run it for one main cause.
“Greater than anything, the children, they’re depressed. They want some optimistic information,” Rutherford mentioned.
That appears to be the primary focus for all the highschool coaches seeking to play in summer season leagues.
“These youngsters should be exterior, they should get collectively, they should get going,” mentioned Skowhegan Excessive discipline hockey coach Paula Doughty. “It’s been actually exhausting for them.”
Skowhegan performs in a 10-team summer season league that Doughty hopes continues this summer season below the rules to reopen the state set forth by Gov. Mills final week.

Plans are underway for a 30-team summer season soccer league for highschool gamers, beginning maybe by June 23. Ben McCanna/Workers Photographer Buy this Photo
Mike Andreasen, the boys’ soccer coach at Greely Excessive in Cumberland, has put collectively a summer season schedule for a 30-team soccer league that he hopes can begin on June 23, eight days after the MPA permits groups to start holding summer season crew actions. If the state’s tips prohibit nonetheless beginning that early, he mentioned they may wait till July to start taking part in video games.
“We’re simply ready on our athletic administrators, our rec administrators (who run the fields), and we’re ready on Gov. Mills to see what might be finished,” mentioned Andreasen, who can also be the women’ basketball coach at Grey-New Gloucester Excessive and hopes to have the ability to play basketball video games this summer season.
He mentioned he has informed the opposite soccer groups that the video games could be performed with out spectators and that rosters could be restricted to 20-22 gamers, thus falling inside the 50-person max for group gatherings in Phases 2 and three of the governor’s plan.
“There’s nonetheless a variety of time,” he mentioned. “However I do know we’ve acquired to prepare. We’re nonetheless 45, 50 days away. Simply this week we had a terrific breakthrough, to ease the rules. This week has been signal, I’m hoping there proceed to be good indicators.”
One of many greatest questions that should be answered is how social distancing might be adopted throughout a sport.
“How do you social distance in a basketball sport or a soccer sport? You may’t do it,” mentioned Heinz, the MPA’s medical director. “Even carrying masks and taking everybody’s temperature earlier than, I’m unsure we are able to shield all these youngsters. And that’s the priority. You possibly can probably unfold this virus to 25 totally different folks when you’ve got one sick child on the sphere. And I’m much more involved for the coaches or officers. They’re in danger for a foul consequence if uncovered.”
Social distancing could possibly be a difficulty for all sports activities. However noting that his spouse works in a hair salon, one of many companies allowed to reopen by the governor on Friday, Portland’s Rutherford mentioned “For those who’re going to have the ability to stand over somebody coloring their hair for 30 minutes, we’re not any nearer than that” on a baseball discipline.
Yarmouth’s Holt is planning on working crew practices on Tuesdays in July and has communicated with coaches from quite a few southern Maine groups about holding round-robin video games on Thursdays. She believes ladies’ lacrosse, which doesn’t enable checking, might be performed, although, “I don’t suppose youngsters can play in masks. Possibly coaches in masks and youngsters on the sideline with neck pull-ups they’ll use to cowl their mouth and nostril once they’re on the sidelines.”
Andreasen shares Holt’s doubts are taking part in with masks. The MPA’s Heinz isn’t certain masks would assistance on the sphere. “Even when they’re carrying a masks, is that going to guard them or one other participant? I feel the reply is not any,” he mentioned.

Portland Excessive boys’ basketball coach Joe Russo and his friends are planning on a summer season basketball league, however cautions “I’m placing contingency plans in place, if we are able to’t have a league, if we are able to’t have exercises.” Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Workers Photographer
Portland Excessive boys’ basketball coach Joe Russo mentioned he and his friends are nonetheless planning on having a summer season schedule of practices and video games, “however I’m placing contingency plans in place, if we are able to’t have a league, if we are able to’t have exercises.”
Russo echoed many coaches when he mentioned he’s ready to get directions on what he can and might do along with his gamers, from each his faculty directors and the MPA. If he can meet along with his gamers – and amenities are open – Russo mentioned there can nonetheless be precious one-on-one instruction.
“Particular person exercises are so essential for a coach, as a result of throughout a season it’s largely crew strategy; to work with a participant one-on-one, summer season’s the time,” Russo mentioned.
Soccer coaches have ramped up their summer season exercises within the final decade, emphasizing passing sport abilities with 7-on-7 video games, and organizing summer season camps.
Leavitt Coach Mike Hathaway mentioned lately he’s had as many as 18 groups go to Turner on a single night time for a 7-on-7 match.
“I’m guessing we gained’t have 18 groups this yr. It wouldn’t shock me if we didn’t have video games in opposition to some other crew,” Hathaway mentioned.

Leavitt Excessive soccer coach Mike Hathaway hopes his crew can maintain 7-on-7 scrimmages in opposition to different colleges this summer season, however realizes that might not be possible. Andree Kehn/Solar Journal Buy this Photo
Hathaway mentioned he and different coaches are wanting towards June 1, when the restriction on gatherings is anticipated to broaden to 50 folks, as a key date. Bonny Eagle Coach Kevin Cooper can also be anxiously ready for route about what he can and might’t do along with his gamers.
“If we’re allowed to do stuff in July, coaches will unexpectedly put collectively 7-on-7 competitions and get our weight rooms up and going, however truthfully, I wouldn’t be shocked if Aug. 17 is the date we are able to resume sport actions,” Cooper mentioned. Aug. 17 is tentatively the primary day for fall highschool sports activities practices to start.
Hathaway mentioned soccer coaches, specifically, will even must be cognizant about locker room and weight room use. His greatest concern is having the ability to supply some kind of exercise, even in a drastically modified style, to maintain youngsters engaged with teammates and their athletic pursuits.
“For those who like faculty, or music, or artwork, there’s nonetheless that distance kind studying and alternatives, however for youths who’re two-, three-sport athletes who’re used to sports activities being their main option to socialize and inspire themselves and dwell life, these youngsters are in a bind proper now,” Hathaway mentioned. “Actually there’s some concern about psychological well being and people guys simply making it via this stuff.”
Thornton Academy Athletic Director Gary Stevens is just not certain there will probably be a summer season season for any groups. However, he mentioned, now could be the time to begin fascinated with what might be finished.
“I feel we spent most of our vitality and time the final six weeks focusing, on seniors specifically, (and) on spring athletes to assist them recoup the loss they’ve had,” he mentioned. “Now that we’re starting to see a phasing into a brand new regular, a resumption of some actions in a tiered means, we now have to determine if we’re again in enterprise and might maintain athletic contests, and the way we are able to accomplish that within the new regular.”
Donna Jordan, the sphere hockey coach at Boothbay, mentioned solely time will decide if the summer season leagues are held.
“I feel everybody hopes to be taking part in,” she mentioned. “Sadly, that’s the long run and it’s exhausting to foretell proper now. We’ll preserve fingers crossed that we are able to play, however others will dictate that to us.”

Maine Final has needed to cancel its highschool season, however this summer season gamers may give you the option participate in particular person abilities contests. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Workers Photographer
Whereas MPA-sanctioned spring sports activities had been canceled April 9, Maine Final was nonetheless hoping it may play its spring highschool season for the sphere sport performed with a flying disc. That hope was squashed this week by Gov. Mills’ up to date requirements and the willpower of USA Final.
Tom Stoughton, the state youth coordinator for Maine Final, mentioned Maine could also be nearer to getting one thing going once more than the remainder of the nation due to the comparatively low incidence price for infections and deaths.
“However in the end, we’re nonetheless taking part in the sport fairly carefully to different folks, there’s actually no means round that half,” Stoughton mentioned. “One of many issues USA Final has beneficial is to begin doing particular person abilities contests, so that you’re not truly on someone else. It’s not Final, but it surely’s ultimate-like I assume.”
SPORTS CAMPS

The Capital Metropolis summer season basketball camp has been a fixture on the Augusta Civic Middle for greater than three a long time. Camp director Paul Vachon has determined he can’t run the camp safely this summer season. Joe Phelan/Morning Sentinel
Many summer season sports activities camps have already got been canceled. Those who haven’t been are being modified.
Paul Vachon, the Corridor of Fame retired ladies’ basketball coach from Cony Excessive, is not going to run a basketball camp this summer season for the primary time in 35 years.
“For me, I can’t see how I can do it with out worrying about each single minute of the day,” he mentioned. “We’re not going to have it, and we glance to reconvene subsequent yr.”
Vachon, who retired in 2019 as Cony’s athletic director, normally will get about 150 youngsters to his camp, held throughout final week of June on the Augusta Civic Middle. He made the choice to cancel a couple of week in the past. He nervous about social distancing, disinfecting each piece of apparatus, and about whether or not gamers and counselors would wish to put on masks. “It wouldn’t be enjoyable for me,” he mentioned. “And it wouldn’t be enjoyable for the children.”
Skowhegan’s Doughty plans on holding her discipline hockey camp however mentioned she’s going to proceed to observe what tips are in place. “We’re going to make plans for them,” she mentioned. “I’ll make plans, and regardless of the governor says, I’ll modify.”
Thornton Academy discipline hockey coach Lori Smith holds a discipline hockey camp for college students in grades 2-9 each summer season however isn’t certain she will be able to this yr. She’s ready to see if the turf discipline at Hill Stadium will probably be accessible – at the moment it’s closed to all actions – and what the state tips are.
“I take pleasure in doing it,” she mentioned. “But when there’s any probability it’s not within the campers’ or gamers’ greatest pursuits, I’ll droop it for a yr. That’s the means I’d lean.”

Veteran baseball coach Mike D’Andrea runs the Maine Lightning, a summer season journey baseball crew. Out-of-state tournaments are unlikely this yr, so his focus could also be on particular person coaching and positional exercises. Derek Davis/Workers Photographer
D’Andrea additionally runs the Maine Lightning, a summer season journey baseball crew based mostly out of Portland. With numerous quarantine insurance policies throughout the New England states, touring to out-of-state tournaments is unlikely to occur for any sport, so D’Andrea mentioned the main target will probably be extra native.
“I feel will probably be totally different than it has prior to now. We now have a objective, and that’s our buyer loyalty, and we’re dedicated to that, with the Lightning and this system, to ensure we do this,” D’Andrea mentioned. “It may appear like particular person coaching, crew exercises, positional exercises, weekly coaching camps. We’ve talked about all of it and we’re not going to cease till we offer a service we really feel is greater than ample.”
On the College of Southern Maine in Gorham, Athletic Director Al Bean is hoping to salvage a few of his faculty’s summer season sports activities camps later in the summertime. The college’s campus is closed via July, he mentioned, which is when a lot of the camps are held. He has begun wanting on the first couple weeks in August to see “if it’s secure and acceptable to maneuver them into that.”
Whereas the camps usually contain in a single day stays, any camps now would strictly be day camps “geared to native athletes,” he mentioned. They might additionally must observe any tips set forth by the Maine CDC at the moment.
“Every little thing is an unknown,” mentioned Bean. “We now have to observe how issues develop … A call we make at the moment might need to alter in 2-Three weeks.”
Along with misplaced income, Bean mentioned the varsity’s athletic applications additionally lose a giant recruiting software. That’s not essentially the case on the College of Maine in Orono. However the Black Bears have canceled all their summer season camps via July 31. Any camps scheduled for August are in limbo proper now.
“I simply suppose there are nonetheless a variety of unknowns,” mentioned ladies’s basketball coach Amy Vachon, who needed to cancel two camps. “Our first precedence is security for everybody, the campers, our gamers … and till we all know what’s occurring and might guarantee everybody’s secure, we’re not going to danger that.”
Greater than something, Vachon mentioned she’s going to miss seeing the campers. “For us, it’s extra that neighborhood spirit, that neighborhood outreach, connecting with youthful ladies locally who look as much as gamers,” she mentioned. “It’s a enjoyable couple of weeks.”
Maine soccer coach Nick Charlton mentioned he has had two camps canceled, and one scheduled for Portland in July is on maintain. “It’s only a tentative scenario, like a variety of issues,” he mentioned.
LITTLE LEAGUE

Little League districts throughout the state are attempting to determine learn how to get some video games on this summer season. Russ Dillingham/Solar Journal
When the Little League World Sequence and its regional tournaments had been canceled on Thursday, the nationwide group mentioned that it’s as much as native leagues to find out whether or not or not they’ll play.
And proper now, leagues throughout the state are attempting to determine an answer. The season, which normally begins in late April, can’t begin till June 1 on the earliest due to the state’s most restrict of 10 individuals at a gathering. However after June 1, the restrict will increase to 50, and Little League officers suppose they’ll play video games then.
Invoice Finley, the District 6 commissioner, mentioned he’s contacting the governor’s workplace for clarification on the 50-person restrict. “Does that embrace the children taking part in, or simply the spectators,” he mentioned. “We’re simply hoping to permit the children to play as a lot as attainable. We may nonetheless host, with all the opposite districts within the state, if they need a state match, we may do one late August, early September.”
Finley mentioned some leagues in District 6 have canceled their seasons, together with Gorham. He hopes to begin a Sandlot program, the place gamers choose two groups and name their very own balls and strikes, with grownup supervision.
Pete Bingham, the director of the Cumberland/North Yarmouth Neighborhood Recreation Division, mentioned not taking part in a state match may give different gamers extra taking part in time.
“We’ve at all times needed to have the native stuff finished earlier than the all-star tournaments,” he mentioned. “Now we’re not beholden to that.”
BEYOND TEAM SPORTS

“It might be good as issues confide in see the place tennis stands,” says Brian Mavor, president of the Maine Tennis Affiliation. “We’re attempting to advertise tennis and do as a lot as we are able to below the rules.” Michael G. Seamans/Morning Sentinel
Tennis suffered a blow with the cancellation of the Betty Blakeman match, which was to be held along with the canceled Yarmouth Clam Competition in mid-July. It had been held the earlier 30 years.
Don Atkinson, the director of that match, mentioned he doesn’t foresee many tournaments being performed earlier than August or September.
Brian Mavor, the volunteer president of the Maine Tennis Affiliation, mentioned the group is searching for steering from the governor’s workplace. The U.S. Tennis Affiliation has suspended all sanctioned occasions via Might 31.
“It might be good as issues confide in see the place tennis stands,” mentioned Mavor. “We’re attempting to advertise tennis and do as a lot as we are able to below the rules.”
For golfers, the state’s restrictions on taking part in golf solely inside the county a golfer resides has worn out the Maine State Golf Affiliation’s schedule of occasions in Might. However space professionals consider golf-focused tournaments might be held.
“If it’s predominantly about golf and you may unfold out tee instances, you may most likely do it,” mentioned Portland Nation Membership head professional Dan Venezio. “The occasions with a variety of issues that go on across the match, shotgun begins, dinner events, these will probably be eradicated or severely modified.”
The Maine working neighborhood has already seen a number of of its greatest races canceled, together with the Maine Coast Marathon and Half Marathon, the Portland Sea Canines Mom’s Day 5K, the Sugarloaf Marathon and 15Ok, the Outdated Port Half Marathon and 5K, and the Seashore to Beacon 10Ok. This week, it was introduced that the Again Cove Sequence gained’t be held this yr. The sequence consists of 5K races every Wednesday night from Memorial Day to Labor Day and attracts a pack of about 250 runners every week. Cash raised by the races goes to Portland Trails.
John Rogers, the proprietor of Fleet Toes Maine Working, mentioned it was a tough however crucial resolution.
“It’s most likely our most cherished grassroots occasion that we placed on,” he mentioned, noting that they get about 600 runners registered every year. “I feel it’s one of many issues the working neighborhood seems to be ahead to.”
However the limits on public gatherings wouldn’t enable the races to be held.
“We thought, we may do it in waves, we may do that or that,” mentioned Rogers. “Crucial factor is for the working and strolling neighborhood to correctly socially distance whereas on the market. Working and strolling are essential to assist us cope. Race occasions are simply not attainable to run by the CDC tips.”
Rogers mentioned any runner who would love his or her registration payment donated to Portland Trails will get a free entry in 2021. Refunds additionally might be requested.
COMMUNITY DAY CAMPS

Neighborhood recreation departments are more likely to take a unique strategy for summer season day camps this yr. There will probably be fewer, if any, discipline journeys, with the deal with native actions. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
Native recreation departments are additionally gearing up for his or her summer season day camps, although all of them be aware that they are going to have a unique look.
There will probably be fewer, if any, discipline journeys, with the deal with native actions.
The Saco Parks and Recreation Division affords a day camp to kids in grades Ok-8. Final yr, they averaged 315 kids a day. Director Ryan Sommer mentioned he thinks the rec division can accommodate about 250 kids this yr, relying on the rules set forth by the Maine CDC.
“The actions and video games will probably be totally different than what we’re used to do, it should really be an onsite camp,” mentioned Sommer, who hopes to open camp July 6. “It’ll be totally different than years previous once we’d go to parks like Funtown and Aquaboggan and different journeys. We need to ensure we’ll be as secure as attainable.”
Saco affords 4 camps, based mostly on the ages of the youngsters, plus a theater camp. Sommer mentioned his workers is being instructed on how to ensure the whole lot is secure, with fixed disinfecting of all exhausting surfaces. And he mentioned town bought a number of exterior transportable hand sinks so campers and counselors can wash their arms continuously.
“We’re attempting to take each step attainable to make sure the security and nicely being and well being of the children, in addition to our workers,” he mentioned. “A gaggle leaves one space, the workers goes to return in and spray it right down to make it clear once more.”
Bingham, the rec director in Cumberland, plans to roll out a modified model of day camp. “We’re going to return to fundamentals and run activity-based applications,” he mentioned.
He mentioned this system affords camps to kids in grades Ok-Eight at three totally different websites. Final yr, there have been about 200 campers per day. He plans to open on June 29.
“We’re going to attempt to get artistic in instances like this,” he mentioned. “Is it Water Nation? Is it Aquaboggan? No. However the social interplay goes to be so enormous for the children, and even our workers.”
In Outdated Orchard Seashore, Parks and Recreation director Jason Webber mentioned he’s attempting to create a secure setting for everybody on the day camp, which he hopes to open the primary week of July.
“I feel we’re going to have the ability to create a enjoyable summer season for the children due to the actual fact they’ve been indoors so lengthy and haven’t had interplay,” he mentioned. “Our greatest concern is security for the workers and youngsters.”
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