Nicholas Hodell is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Estrella Foothills High School for AZPreps365.com

While discussing some of the effects the coronavirus pandemic has had on his practices on Tuesday, Estrella Foothills coach Derek Wahlstrom stepped aside from his office chair for a brief moment.  One of his players had arrived for practice and needed a temperature check in order to continuing preparing for that afternoon’s practice.

This scene is just one of many similar scenes taking place in high schools throughout the state while players and coaches play through the coronavirus pandemic.

In June, the Arizona Department of Health Services said that playing sports such as football was considered to be a “moderate-high” risk activity for contracting the coronavirus.  The AIA’s executive board later approved guidelines to start the season.

Wahlstrom said that there have been plenty of adjustments in his practices since June.  However, he did not view those practice adjustments as a negative. 

“A lot of those are positive changes, but it does create a sense of newness that we have to work to overcome,” Wahlstrom said.

The first stage of limited practices involved smaller groups of 10 and each coach had his own group of players.  Offensive line coach Mike Welch was unable to coach all of his players, which created some initial concern that has led to the team being a little behind compared to normal seasons.

“Coaches are creatures of habit,” Welch said.  “We like things to be very comfortable for us.  We like to start at a certain time in the calendar and being able to move through a progression of things.”

Welch also found himself in a different role.  After practice, Welch sanitizes any equipment that is used during the practice session, such as footballs.  At first, the process was time consuming, but the process became better as time went along.

“Initially it took close to a half hour, but we got it down pretty good,” Welch said.  “It takes just a few minutes now.  We got a pretty good system going.”

As footballs and pads were added to practice, coaches had to adjust their practice schedule to the limitations and allowances that were in place.  Wahlstrom said that he and his staff had to adapt their practice plans while also being appreciative for each opportunity to add in another element of practice.

“It’s definitely making us more flexible,” Wahlstrom said.  “It makes us more grateful for what we get to have.”

In his 29 years of coaching football, Welch said he had never experienced anything like the effect the pandemic had on the 2020 season and his team.  

“We’re starting to see injuries that normally wouldn’t happen that are happening now,” Welch said.  “We’ve had kids that have had shoulder issues that we’ve never had before.”

For Wahlstrom, the effects of the pandemic did not hit close to home until recently.  Last week, Estrella Foothills’ originally scheduled game against Youngker was cancelled because of coronavirus cases at Northwest Christian, Youngker’s week one opponent.

While the Wolves found an opponent to play in Greenway, Wahlstrom found the short preparation time for Greenway during Estrella Foothills’ fall break to be just a part of playing during a pandemic.

“We were playing catch-up the entire time trying to get ready for that game,” Wahlstrom said.

Estrella Foothills athletic director William Wright said he didn’t have to make a lot of calls to get Greenway on the schedule.

The coaching staff believes the players have handled the situation well even with different practice styles and limitations in the build-up to the season.

“Kids are kind of more receptive to change being part of the deal,” Welch said.  “I think they handled it better than us coaches did.”