I might not be 100 percent prepared for the spring season of high school sports to begin, but the trunk of my car is good to go.
Here is a sample of what I throw in my car before braving the 70 degrees and sunny, to 25 degrees and snowing: Sun screen, ball cap, sunglasses, shorts, folding chair, ski cap, two pair of gloves, winter coat, windbreaker, sweat pants and umbrella.
Tossing in my snow pants is a possibility, but I’ll hold off on that for now.
I’m not sure whose idea it was, having baseball, boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer, girls golf, girls tennis and track start the regular season by March 6. It’s the earliest date I can ever remember spring sports beginning in Colorado. By the way, the first official day of spring is March 20.
At least the use of outdoor pools for the boys swimming season hasn’t come up on the table yet.
Sympathy comes to mind for all the athletic directors, athletic secretaries and coaches who will more than likely have to juggle rescheduling games for the next two months. Pushing the spring season into the first week of June probably will never happen. Jamming everything into a span of 76 days is the trend.
Spring break (March 22-30) gives the opportunities to escape the fickle Colorado spring weather. A dozen of Jeffco’s baseball programs are headed to Arizona, California or Florida during spring break. It wouldn’t shock me if soccer programs decided to follow suit in years to come.
If you aren’t ready yet to battle the spring elements — I know I’m not — there is still a little basketball action left. The Class 5A and 4A state hoops tournaments wrap up Friday and Saturday, March 14 and 15, at the Coors Events Center in Boulder. Faith Christian’s boys and girls hoops teams have a good shot at pulling off a championship double at the 3A tournament Thursday through Saturday, March 13-15, at Moby Arena in Fort Collins.
For those playing and watching outdoor action in the next few weeks, enjoy … weather permitting, of course.