Anchor: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SEASON IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER.
NCC NEWS REPORTER ERIK SLATER TELLS US ABOUT A TUMULTUOUS YEAR FOR COACHES AND THE PROCESS OF RETURNING TO THE FIELD.
Reporter: HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN SYRACUSE IS BACK.
LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS WILL RETURN TO THE FIELD THIS FALL AFTER PLAYING AN ABBREVIATED SEASON LAST SPRING.
SOLVAY FOOTBALL COACH DAN SALISBURY SAYS THE RETURN TO ACTION HAS NOT BEEN WITHOUT ITS STRUGGLES.
Salisbury: IT’S A TOUGH GAME TO PLAY. IT’S THE HARDEST GAME TO PRACTICE, IT’S THE GREATEST GAME TO PLAY. TO TRY TO GET KIDS MOTIVATED TO GET BACK AND
PRACTICE AFTER DOING NOTHING, REALLY SERIOUSLY NOTHING, WAS REALLY, REALLY CHALLENGING.
Reporter: DESPITE THIS, EASED RESTRICTIONS AND THE PROSPECT OF RETURNING TO A FULL FALL SCHEDULE HAS TEAMS REJUVENATED.
Salisbury: A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY SHOW PEOPLE THAT IT IS A FAMILY. WE COULDN’T THINK OF ANY OTHER PLACE WE’D RATHER BE. THE EXCITEMENT OF HAVING THE
REGULAR SEASON TO LOOK FORWARD TO IS GOING TO OUTWEIGH ANYTHING THAT YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT.
Reporter: HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS AROUND THE CITY HAVE ALREADY BEGUN SEVEN ON SEVEN SCRIMMAGES.
TEAMS WILL RETURN TO TRAINING CAMP AUGUST 23RD.
ERIK SLATER, N-C-C News.
Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) – High school football in Syracuse is back.
Teams will return to the field this fall after playing an abbreviated season last spring. For many teams, this will be the first time playing a full schedule in nearly two years.
Solvay high school played just three games last spring after the cancellation of the fall season. Head coach Dan Salisbury says the return to action has not been without its struggles.
“It’s a tough game to play,” Salisbury said. “To try to get kids motivated to get back and practice after doing nothing, really, seriously nothing, was really, really challenging.”
High schools are still adhering to mask protocols while indoors and could do so beyond the start of fall classes. However, outdoor practices are free of covid restrictions. Eased protocols and the prospect of returning to a full fall schedule has teams rejuvenated.
“The excitement of having the regular season is going to outweigh anything that you’re worried about,” Salisbury said.
Teams around the city have already begun seven on seven scrimmages. High schools will return to training camp on Aug. 23.
