LAS CRUCES – Las Cruces Excessive Faculty soccer coach Mark Lopez needs each athlete in New Mexico to play their chosen sports activities in a COVID-19 shortened calendar.
However because the calendar has turned to 2021, Lopez hopes on the very least that New Mexico’s seniors can be allowed to have a last season, even when it means conducting all fall and winter sports activities on the similar time this spring.
“They (seniors) do not get one other likelihood at this and that’s the place that is coming from,” Lopez mentioned. “As onerous as it’s on everybody, final yr’s spring sports activities seniors misplaced the chance and I’d not prefer to see that once more.”
In November, Lopez collaborated with Rio Rancho Cleveland soccer coach Heath Ridenour to e-mail the New Mexico Actions Affiliation a proposal that might primarily conduct all sports activities concurrently on the varsity stage solely, which might theoretically enable the NMAA to maneuver a begin date for a seven-week soccer season again till March.
The NMAA’s current proposal, which has not been authorized by the state, would enable soccer to start apply for a seven-week season on Feb. 1.
“The NMAA is working to get us again, however this was an thought if all else fails, we may transfer every little thing again and have a varsity solely season to sort of shield our seniors,” Lopez mentioned. “It might be the final 9 weeks of the semester for soccer, as an illustration. You may give the spring sports activities by June.”
In her weekly on-line interview this week, NMAA government director Sally Marquez indicated that spring sports activities had been a precedence since these athletes may doubtlessly miss two straight years of competitors. Spring sports activities below the NMAA’s present proposal run from April by June.
“No matter we do, we have to protect spring sports activities,” Marquez mentioned. “That has not modified. … I do not know what’s going to occur with fall and winter sports activities. Spring sports activities run from April by June so I’m very eager for spring sports activities.”
Lopez mentioned he has not had a direct response from the NMAA, however Dusty Younger, the NMAA affiliate director in control of soccer, mentioned all choices, together with the choice proposed by Lopez and Ridnour, are on the desk.
“We’re contemplating all choices with our member faculties and nonetheless ready for the Governor’s workplace that might inform us we are able to begin,” Younger mentioned. “We must always get some additional info from the Governor this week, hopefully. With (COVID-19) numbers the place they’re in most counties, we could need to make changes once more so there haven’t been selections made on the calendar.”
Younger mentioned there has not been a drop useless date but established, however mentioned the NMAA may maintain an emergency board assembly as quickly as subsequent week to debate the sports activities calendar.
Lopez acknowledged a number of logistical issues along with his proposal, however famous there’s time to work by some points that would come with amenities to accommodate a number of sports activities through the week, officers and transportation.
“With time operating brief on every little thing, I do not assume it is too late to place in place as a backup plan,” Lopez mentioned.
Sports activities Editor Jason Groves could be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Comply with him on Twitter @jpgroves.
