Photo by Gabby Nirmal/The Choate News
With the return of athletics in the fall term, teams across campus have had to adjust their protocols according to Choate guidelines. Whether you are working out in the gym, playing football, or running on campus, facial coverings are necessary. Choate’s guidelines state that during the moderate risk level, the orange phase, “Everyone will be wearing a school-approved face covering and working out 12 feet apart indoors and 6 feet apart outdoors.” A school-approved neck-gaiter can also be word during sports outdoors.
Head Coach of Boys’ Varsity Football Mr. LJ Spinnato told The Choate News, “All players will be required to wear a mask underneath their helmets, equipped with a full splash guard that covers the entire face.” When asked about the difficulties of wearing a mask, strong safety Enzo DeFranco 23’ responded with, “The mask isn’t too much of a damper, rather the plastic face covering especially inhibits my playing skills when it’s cold or rainy as it fogs up and is difficult to see more than ten yards in front.”
The Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country teams, whose practices encompass lots of cardio, have had a hard time adjusting to wearing a face covering at all times. Luke Callaghan ’23 said, “When you start to work really hard and sweat, the mask basically becomes a wall. It’s frustrating as I can’t work as hard as I want to.”
With the responsibility of keeping the community safe, trade-offs need to be made and it has become evident that this is just one of the many obstacles that student-athletes face.
Head Coach of Boys’ Varsity Football Mr. LJ Spinnato told The Choate News, “All players will be required to wear a mask underneath their helmets, equipped with a full splash guard that covers the entire face.” When asked about the difficulties of wearing a mask, strong safety Enzo DeFranco 23’ responded with, “The mask isn’t too much of a damper, rather the plastic face covering especially inhibits my playing skills when it’s cold or rainy as it fogs up and is difficult to see more than ten yards in front.”
The Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country teams, whose practices encompass lots of cardio, have had a hard time adjusting to wearing a face covering at all times. Luke Callaghan ’23 said, “When you start to work really hard and sweat, the mask basically becomes a wall. It’s frustrating as I can’t work as hard as I want to.”
With the responsibility of keeping the community safe, trade-offs need to be made and it has become evident that this is just one of the many obstacles that student-athletes face.
