NEW YORK - It was a great season for the 10U Central Park Hawks Hockey Team. After making it to the league finals, they were set to leave for a tournament in Delaware.
Those plans were sadly cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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“I was kind of mad and disappointed because really wanted to go to Delaware and skate at the cool rink where my Dad skated when he was in college," said Hawks player Max Goldstein.
Max is one of the many young athletes in the five boroughs whose seasons were cut short, or never even started as a result of the virus and stay in place orders. In an effort to keep kids active and engaged with their teammates, coaches like Max's dad Brendan Goldstein are using platforms like Zoom to hold team practices and get togethers.
“We wanted to put together a program that A, connected the kids every single day, B, kept them physically fit and moving and together, and lastly gives them something to look forward to," Goldstein said.
The 10U Hawks meet virtually weekdays at 7:30 a.m. The group includes siblings like Goldstein's 6-year-old son Evan, who also plays hockey, plus parents and even friends who play other sports.
"Kids are super smart, they are also resilient, and I think we just take things one day at a time," Goldstein said.
The New York Bluebirds Youth Baseball Program, with 200 players ages 7 to 16, was among the many teams and leagues that never started its spring season due to the pandemic. Organization President Mike Handell says they developed a program to keep players in the loop despite not being on the diamond together. They started a virtual classroom to engage the kids in terms of their development as ballplayers.
"It’s like a clubhouse where they can get drills, workouts from our coaches, plus interact with each other and continue to improve," Handell said.
The Bluebirds have also hosted conferences on college recruiting and even a team chat with Chicago Cubs Pitcher James Norwood, who grew up in Manhattan. All in anticipation of, someday, getting out onto the field once again.
It’s something kids, parents, and coaches who enjoy sports hope can happen sooner than later.