SportsFOX 17 Blitz

Actions

Greenville football players willing to wear face coverings to play

Masks are not ideal but currently required
Posted at 9:37 PM, Sep 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-08 23:04:49-04
Teams prepare for changes in competition

High school football teams restarted practice on Tuesday after last week's news that a fall season is back on.

"We were all planning on just doing our normal winter stuff we were getting prepared for next season and then all of a sudden news drops," Greenville senior strong safety Caden Peterson said. "It is crazy, it's exhilarating because obviously a lot of us out here we love playing football."

One big difference from previous practices is that players are required to wear face coverings.

"It's whatever," Peterson said. "We just go along with it, it's football. We get to come out here, we get to play Friday nights just like normal. The masks are just another part of it but it is something that you have to sacrifice, you put on the mask and you come out and play football so it is totally worth it."

"There is some concern there just because their breathing is restricted and their face is covered," 2nd year Greenville head coach Nick Davis added. "We have had some questions from parents and we answer to the best of our ability but it is the way that it is right now so we are going to fall in line."

The masks also make communication a little more difficult.

"Everything is muffled and you have to yell a little bit louder and make sure," Davis said. "It definitely impedes on the communication so we have to be a little more assertive with that."

Face coverings for athletes are required by executive order 176 from the governor's office.

"It really just gets hot a little bit and it is kind of hard to breathe sometimes," Greenville senior free safety Luke Zamarron said. "But it is not that big of a deal."

For Zamarron, he is willing to do whatever it takes to get back on the field including wearing a face covering.

"It didn't really bother me because last year I tore my ACL," Zamarron said. "So anyway I can play I'll play that way and be able to be out there."

Greenville had purchased 120 Gaiter face coverings before the season was postponed back in August so they were ready to go on Tuesday.

The Michigan High School Athletic Association is seeking clarification from the governor's office in hopes that athletes will not have to wear face coverings in competition.