With the start of the spring sports season delayed until April due to the coronavirus pandemic, California Pintos spring sports teams have all been affected by the news.
California's baseball, track and field, and golf teams have all come up with ways to help their players stay ready for the season to restart while at home.
Baseball head coach Steven Stock said this is something he has never experienced in 30 years of coaching. Stock said the coaches were the ones to tell the players about the postponement, and it was clear they were not happy to hear the news.
"It is very disappointing that our season has been postponed," Stock said. "We had a meeting with our players and informed them of the postponement shortly after we found out. I believe the players are very disappointed, as we were working hard and looking forward to starting the season."
Stock said coaches told the players to try to throw at home, and the coaches would keep the players informed about the situation as it develops.
"So when and if we resume playing, they would be more prepared to play," Stock said. "We also informed them that we did not know when the season would resume, and we would communicate with them further once we get more information on what will happen with this situation."
Now that some time has passed since the decision, Stock said he thinks the players understand the reason behind it a bit better.
"When we told them, I don't think the severity of the situation was understood at that time," Stock said. "I think now they probably understand it. It is very disappointing, but after learning how serious it is, it is easy to understand why we have to do what we are doing."
Track and field head coach Justin Pflug said he was also disappointed when he heard the news.
"But we knew there was a chance that it was coming after they canceled March Madness and suspended spring sports for the NCAA," Pflug said.
Pflug said that as a coach, he has never seen anything like this.
"I don't think anyone has. I just saw that the Olympics has been postponed for only the fourth time in existence - all for World Wars, and then this," Pflug said.
Pflug said the track and field coaches have also come up with some plans to keep California athletes ready while at home.
"After we found out that the season was suspended for two weeks originally, all of the track coaches came up with a plan to send out daily workouts for students," Pflug said. "This is our way of trying to keep our athletes on track for the time being without practice. Obviously, we have no clue whether or not they are running or staying in shape, but at this point it is the only thing that we can control."
Boys golf head coach Doug Miller said though postponing the season was necessary, he felt bad for his players, especially the seniors on the team. Miller said it was sad for him to deliver the message about the season being postponed on the app the team uses. A couple of the players got back to Miller after he delivered the news.
"A couple of them said 'Oh coach, this sucks - it is our senior year.' They were really upset, to be honest with you," Miller said.
Miller told his players to try to get some practice done on their own.
"I told them that let's make sure we maintain our social distancing, but the course is open for them every day," Miller said. "We talked about getting out in the open air and getting some exercise. The boys are allowed to go out there and work. I just cannot have an organized practice. If they got out by themselves, they can stay sharp. I told them 'Stay sharp,' because you never know what is going to happen - don't just go home and sit around. I hope they are working."
Miller said he hopes the team comes back fired up after the season starts.
"We were going into (the season) gung-ho with a couple of state finishes in a row, and I am hoping (the players) come back still fired up if the season goes and wanting to continue that," Miller said.