SJC-Brooklyn Softball is Back
SJC-Brooklyn softball team after sweeping a double-header against Farmingdale State College (3/21/21).
By Allison Kaspar
Amid the pandemic, the fate of college athletics has been unknown. At the start of the quarantine, many campuses were forced to shut down and continue the semester through online learning, canceling all in-person classes and athletic competitions.
A year ago, student-athletes found themselves at a loss when their seasons ended abruptly. Since the fall semester, athletic department staff and Skyline Conference officials have been hard at work to ensure that their student-athletes are safe, while still being able to practice and hopefully compete.
Margret Alaimo, director of athletics at St. Joseph’s College—Brooklyn, has a bright outlook regarding impending spring athletics. Alaimo recently gathered both the athletes and coaches of the softball team to discuss concerns regarding the upcoming season.
Alaimo disclosed that “we will be returning to play, but the coronavirus is still a threat,” insisting that SJC Bears athletes wear masks both on and off of the field. According to the NCAA, athletes are permitted to remove face coverings once they take the field. However, Alaimo insists that the softball team continue to wear face coverings during practices and games.
Since returning to campus after winter break, student-athletes have been undergoing randomized testing weekly. Oscar Melendez, head athletic trainer at the college, prides himself on his ability to ensure regular testing. As Melendez explains, the daily protocol is “players come in, get temperature checks, daily health screenings, and then get permitted to practice.”
The spring athletic season is the first for the SJC-Brooklyn campus to be conducted during the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in new rules that affect more than just the athletes in play. Fans will not be permitted to attend games but instead will need to view them through the St. Joseph’s College Athletics website via live stream video.
The team is now able to conduct full practices. For the majority of February, the softball team was separated into two pods, one made up of pitchers and catchers, and the other consisting of infielders and outfielders. For three weeks, SJC Softball had two practices, one for each pod. Players were elated to be able to practice as a full team, after being encouraged not to intermingle in pods.
An ongoing issue is the transportation of the team. Before the pandemic, athletes were driven to and from practices and games in shared vans. Due to safety concerns, players have been required to find their own transportation to and from practices.
Typically opting to take the subway, many of the athletes have raised apprehensions with regard to their safety. “After practices, when our only option is to take the subway or pay for an Uber, I feel that the safety of my teammates and myself is at risk when having to take the subway late at night,” says Sierra Bedrin, a sophomore.
After many athletes expressed safety concerns, Alaimo assured the team that “vans will be available for transportation at half capacity,” meaning that only six players can sit in the van at a time.
During the meeting between the athletics department staff and the team, Alaimo assured the group that there will be transportation to and from games. Teams will take multiple busses, ensuring that everyone will be at least six feet away from each other. Gear bags along with the rest of the team equipment will be sanitized before and after games.
In spite of the new precautions, student-athletes are ecstatic that they can return to any form of competition. After having their seasons cancelled last March, Bears players have been itching to take the field in any way possible. The outcome of the Spring 2021 athletic season will heavily depend on each school in the Skyline conference ability to adapt to the ever-changing COVID-19 circumstances.
The Bears opened their season on March 20 and 21, splitting a pair of double-headers at Farmingdale.