ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School athletic department has suffered two more summertime losses due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Ashleigh Larsen and Chris Larsen, the Richmond head volleyball and soccer coaches, respectively, announced this week that their annual summer camps have been canceled.
The decision not to hold two of the school’s biggest summer events came as a result of several factors surrounding COVID-19 and the restrictions put on sports from the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
Both Larsens noted the loss of the camps is a big hit to the local interest level, the development of current and future Richmond athletes and fundraising.
“It’s unfortunate because camp is one of the best ways to meet with younger girls and have them gain interest,” Ashleigh Larsen said. “Our current Lady Raiders always look forward to this, and they love volleyball and being able to spread their knowledge to the younger players.
“Having camp helps build community support, which we saw a lot more of last season,” she added. “Not having those kids come back and show their improvements is really hitting home.”
Last summer, Larsen hosted the first volleyball camp in several years, and over 40 girls from elementary school through ninth grade participated. The annual soccer camp, which has been held each of the last 19 summers, usually sees over 130 annual participants.
“These camps are great for our middle school and high school players (in both sports) because it’s a big development time,” Larsen said. “Because of the virus, they’re missing out on a plethora of things.”
The NCHSAA announced on Monday it was lifting the dead period that has been in place since March 13 starting next week, but Richmond County Schools officials still haven’t given the okay for local athletes to workout.
The timeline was a part of the Larsens’ decision to cancel the camps, but the restrictions put in place by the NCHSAA also would make each camp nearly impossible to hold.
According to an email sent to all of Richmond’s head coaches, no indoor activities can currently be held. Even so, a maximum of 10 people are allowed on a volleyball court at one time, per the NCHSAA, and with three coaches, that would allow just seven players at camp.
Players are not allowed to share volleyballs, which also limited the possibility of having camp. Soccer, since it’s outdoors, would be able to have 25 people at a camp, but soccer balls still couldn’t be shared between players. Goalies would also not be allowed to use their hands.
While the summer camps are off the table, a possible winter volleyball camp is being considered by Larsen.
In the meantime, the fate of the fall sports season hangs in the balance. Head coaches in all sports are facing new health restrictions and Larsen said both the soccer and volleyball programs are “implementing a strategy for when the green light” happens.
“Of course we’ll abide by the guidelines, but we’re trying to get the kids prepared ahead of time,” she said. “Conditioning is about all they can do right now, and maybe some individual ball drills. We’re extremely limited in what we can do, but we’re doing the best we can.”
RCS officials are meeting again next week to possibly open local sports back up on June 22. Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Wake County school districts have already announced they are waiting until July 6.
