Virtual School Sports? Clubs? This Is How Troy Is Doing It

As the coronavirus infection became a pandemic in mid-March of last year, Troy Community School District 30-C put its sports and activities on hold, based on the recommendations of several state and national guidance bodies.

Meagan DeGroot remembers one of the first in-person sports event that was cancelled, right toward the end of its season.

“Girls volleyball regionals was the first that was cancelled,” she said.

DeGroot, Troy’s Director of Athletics and Activities, remembers the quick snowball of sports cancellations that followed. She knew many of the students were devastated, and she was, too. Activities and clubs were cancelled, as well, drawing away the spirit of Troy’s two upper grade-level schools.

She and the district’s coaches and sponsors knew something had to be done, and ideas for virtual activities were conceived for the 2020/2021 school year – even in athletics.

In August, Troy implemented virtual baseball and softball. Even though the teams could not play together in person, they could keep their bodies conditioned for their sports by exercising and practicing moves with their teammates and coaches online.

They would practice footwork, study the play books, and practice shooting and throwing and hitting and kicking balls in their backyards.

The students even ran a 5K “virtual” fun run last spring with their individual families. It was a real run, but the students did not run together. More than 200 students and family members participated.

Coaches are teaching online social/emotional lessons, as well this year, such as what it means to be an athlete and how to work with teammates.

“Many times, their coaches serve as their mentors, too,” DeGroot said, “and we felt that social/emotional learning was something the kids really needed right now.”

Troy schools also normally offer an abundance of clubs. As many as 80 are active in a given year. During this Covid-19 school year, around 50 have been active in a virtual manner.

Those include Math Team, National Science Bowl Team, Speech Team, Creative Writing Club, Art Club, Entrepreneurship Club, Science Club, Student Council, Honor Society, Yearbook, Perfect Pals and band and choir concerts and festivals. Coming up later this year will be the Spelling Bee and Troy Middle School’s spring musical.

DeGroot described it as “powerful” for the clubs’ and teams’ members to be with each other again, even if it’s just on their screens. They have common interests they share with each other and enjoy discussing.

“We are providing an outlet for that the best we can,” she said. “It’s such a privilege to be able to give our students these opportunities. Troy sports are not on the backburner. We are just providing a safe outlet for the kids until we can provide safe in-person practices and events.”