With the Super Bowl happening just last month in the wake of one of the biggest spikes in the pandemic, it raises questions about safety. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events in any given year, but this year is unlike any other, players were getting tested and wearing masks on the sideline and the capacity was at less than half. With Central’s football season coming up, athletes  can draw some comparisons between NFL guidelines and the guidelines of high school sports.  

Athletes this year have many different protocols that they have to follow to be able to play safely. In the NFL, they were tested every single day and were on strict rules to not go out and party or attend gatherings, so why can’t this occur for high school sports?  Head athletic trainer Glen Gerdes said, “The cost of daily testing is very, very expensive. A multi-BILLION dollar industry like the NFL can afford to test frequently.” Unfortunately, most high schools in the state don’t have the resources to be able to match the sort of testing that was done to make professional football happen. 

Masks out on the field are a polarizing topic. There is a double standard with the pros not wearing masks versus highschool wearing masks. Head varsity football coach Mike Malloney said, “I worry about not only [about] the cardio [aspect] … You know I worry about access to the mouthpiece [with a mask].” Masks are there to keep players safe and prevent the spread from person to person while on the football field.

Additionally, Gerdes explains why wearing a mask is important. “What worries people is not these kids contracting the virus, it’s transmitting the virus home to where more vulnerable people are.” The NFL, while allowing players to stay unmasked when playing, was also extremely tough on personnel on the sideline, disciplining many head coaches who refused to wear their masks. 

Masks are becoming commonplace in the world we live in. The athletes that are experiencing the pandemic aren’t so worried about the mask mandate, rather they are just happy to be playing. Varsity football lineman Chase James said, “I wish we did not have to wear [the masks], but it’s fine as long as me and my team can play.”

Unfortunately, high schools aren’t as lucky as the NFL was to have the frequent testing, but it provides a unique opportunity to play the first spring football season in Central’s history, and the athletes are more than excited to make history. The student athletes participating aren’t focusing on the what-if’s, they are just happy to be out there and playing the sport they love.