Winter Club Sports Postponed

Thames Volleyball Academy members and staff will have to wait a little longer than expected for their season to start. Governor Ned Lamont announced on November 19 that all club and winter sports will be delayed until January 19. This decision comes after the recent COVID-19 outbreaks across the state. 

After the fall sports season for Norwich Free Academy did not turn out as planned, many students were ready to begin practicing again. Winter clubs like Thames Volleyball Academy help athletes prepare for future seasons, practice for upcoming seasons and give coaches a good way to recruit players. 

“I noticed such a big difference when we had a full season of club volleyball with my improvement, I got so much better and I succeeded more in school volleyball,” said Molly Plecan, an eleventh grade student at NFA and a returning member to Thames Volleyball Academy. 

TVA also put into place many regulations to keep members, staff and parents safe during these uncertain times. 

Tim Krodel, the director of Thames Volleyball Academy, explained the protocols for starting up the club: “Each court was only going to have ten players, maintaining social distancing, the wearing of masks, we were going to have sanitation breaks, hand sanitizer and only a ninety minute window for practice sessions”. 

This postponement affected everyone in a different way. The constant changes in plans throughout this whole year have taken a toll on many people.

“When I found out it was being postponed, I was really sad… I think we had a choice to go to it or not and if you were not comfortable with returning to club sports, then don’t go,” said Ella Bean, a sophomore at NFA and a new member of the TVA family. 

TVA is set to start up again on January 25 for evaluation day as long as they get the approval from the governor. Members and staff hope that things will go as planned in a step to return to normalcy.