This isn’t a tech or SQL related post, so feel free to move on if you are looking for something like that.

Some of you may know that I coach a competitive volleyball team. I’ve been doing this for the last few years, even since my daughter grew up and I didn’t have as much of a chance to see her play any longer. This has been a welcome respite from life, and usually I spend 10-15 hours a week, from November to May, coaching.

With the pandemic last year, my season was cut short. We competed on Mar 8, and all activity stopped on Mar 11, halfway through our season. I was sad, and missed the kids. We did do some practicing and training in June to get them ready for the next year, but it wasn’t the same.

We had no idea what to think about the 2021 season, but in August, Colorado cleared the clubs to start doing some practice. Since the high school season was postponed, we flipped out season somewhat and moved on to train and compete in October. With much of school virtual, and me not traveling, this was a nice break. Only about 7-8 hours a week instead of more, but we competed.

November saw Colorado’s second wave and things shut down. We stopped everything for a few weeks, and then with state permission, were able to train 2-3 kids at a time. Not what I want, not what I signed up for, but still a bit of a release from life. There were a few small competitions in December, but I thought our season would get cancelled again.

A few weeks ago we got permission to start practicing as a team. The idea was to restart the season on 7 Feb. The week before, we were told the state hadn’t approved anything, so we cancelled that date.

Then on the 5th of Feb, we got a note that Colorado’s numbers had improved, and we were going to have a tournament on President’s Day weekend, 13-15 Feb. Still limited. Instead of in a large convention space, we would be spread out to small gyms, limited numbers of athletes inside, no parents. Still, something.

We also got word that the season schedule was pushed back, but still proceeding. Working around the high school season, which will start in March, but life will get back to normal for 10 hours a week for me.

I do worry about safety, and I think holding tech events doesn’t make sense, and it has a higher risk. My kids play in masks, there are limited numbers, and we avoid most contact with other athletes in a large, open space.

So far, through fall competition, we haven’t seen safety issues or outbreaks. Fingers crossed that continues.