By Lily DeBlasio

Staff Writer

Hammond Cheerleading performing at Varsity Field Hockey’s senior game, Picture by Lori Donato

After missing a regularly scheduled fall sports season last year, Hammond athletics had to be prepared for any challenges that could occur this year. Last fall, all sports were postponed to spring of 2021 due to the COVID- 19 pandemic. Many alterations were made to the way each program was run, in order to comply with CDC guidelines. 

Michael Lerner, the Hammond Athletic Director, explained one of the biggest issues athletics has faced during the Pandemic; buses. “The biggest thing [Covid-19] affected is transportation, like buses. With drivers getting sick, games are starting later, it’s a lot of late nights for athletes and coaches.” With late buses affecting game times, scheduling for every program has been more difficult than in previous years. Game times now have to be flexible, in the event a bus can’t make it on time and teams are late.

Aside from modifications made due to COVID-19, Hammond is also facing issues caused by the current renovations. Lerner explains “Hammond has the least amount of field space of any school in the county.” That being said, with the renovations occupying some of the practice fields for fall sports, Lerner says how “we have to be creative. What it’s forced us to do, is have teams practice off site, like field hockey does.” 

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