When New Jersey eventually reopens for business, its youth club and academy sports teams have a twofold hurdle to get over – preparing for a prudent return, while trying to thrive amid fluid government health restrictions.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the postponement of the spring season in March, youth sports operators and club owners remained vigilant, as many believed the shutdown would be temporary.

But with the spring season officially canceled following Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement earlier this month of an additional 30-day extension of the public health emergency in New Jersey, suddenly the focus has shifted to the summer.

The next three months will be predicated on planning, which includes a number of challenges, including scheduling, venue and tournament preparation and hiring of coaches, all while keeping safety at the forefront.

Ask Steve Beneventine of TSF Academy and DePaul Catholic’s Director of Soccer, and the approach remains cautious.

“We’ve used the last two months to prepare and be ready for when the state and government gives us a go. We have been very proactive with our indoor facility in terms of disinfecting, cleaning and making sure everything is sanitary and safe,” said Beneventine, who fields a total of 33 boys and girls teams ranging from 8 to 18 years old.

“Our coaching staff has been in constant contact with their respective teams and athletes, either by telephone, conference calls or on-line. We’ve introduced on-line training videos and we’re keeping up with the athletes and families so that they can hit the ground running when things open up.”

Located in Wayne where the defunct Neumann Prep High School campus once stood, TSF Academy teams train indoors at The Sports Factory in nearby Pompton Plains, and also has a 90,000-square-foot outdoor field and facility at the former Paul VI High School in Clifton.

“We’re in a holding pattern until at least June 6. Our teams would normally be playing a spring schedule then,” Beneventine said. “July and August is usually reserved for tournament season. Depending on the opening, I’m hoping we can get in an abbreviated league schedule that would end the first week of August.”

Where does football stand?

In neighboring Bergen County, Anthony Galella is already thinking about football season.

Galella, president and founder of the Bergen County Stars football program and wide receivers coach for Bergen Catholic, anticipates a delayed start for his nationally-ranked youth travel program. Practice usually starts on Aug. 1.

“We’re already preparing like there’s going to be a season,” said Galella, who started the program nine years ago. “Our coaching staff has been in contact with our families and players and we’ve been doing online and virtual training the last two months.”

Galella will be meeting with other league coaches and managers to discuss the upcoming season and to form guidelines and protocol. He’s also been working through challenges with vendors and sponsor Adidas with uniform and apparel orders.

“There will be protocol in place to sanitize equipment, practice dummies and footballs. I think postgame handshakes will be a thing of the past,” Galella said. “We may have to break up kids into smaller practice groups. But social distancing is difficult on the football field. It’s a contact sport and there’s no other way to play the game.”

Getting back to baseball and softball

The Wayne-based New Jersey Axemen Baseball Organization is banking on a summer season and a return to the diamond.

Like other spring sports, baseball was halted before it started, leaving NJ Axemen board member Mike Monico and the 19 youth and high school travel teams he oversees hoping for a summer season starting in mid-June.

“There are some challenges ahead as the majority of our teams play both in-state and out-of-state tournaments and competition,” said Monico, whose organization is one of the largest in the state with more than 200 youth and high school players. “Some states may reopen before others do, and what happens then if New Jersey still isn’t ready to go?

Teams may have to push their seasons into August, typically an off-month for teams to take vacations with their families or start training for other sports.

The United States Amateur Baseball League, the largest youth league in the tri-state area, released results of its recent survey earlier this month regarding future baseball safety guidelines and rules in an effort to return to the playing field. The USABL received more than 5,100 responses from coaches and parents as it plans its structure and format for league and tournament play this summer. 

“The survey started out as a way to get an idea where everyone was at with getting back to baseball,” USABL president Brian Delahant said. “We wanted to get a feel of what the public wanted to do and how they wanted to handle the return. What we learned is that people want to get back to baseball. We want to get back to baseball in the safest way possible.”

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Under Delahant’s guidance, more than 80 youth baseball organizations teamed together earlier this month to form the NJ Baseball Coalition, an advocacy group formed with the intent to safely return to the field with the approval of Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration.

The NJBC delivered its proposal to the governor’s office last week after releasing a petition to the public seeking their signature and support. The petition outlines social distancing guidelines and precautions and was released as a way to boost support.

A breakthrough may appear on the horizon as the USABL and the Coalition have a scheduled conference call on Thursday with Gov. Murphy to discuss the return to baseball.

Last week, Murphy issued an executive order allowing the reopening of several more outdoor businesses, including batting cages, golf ranges, shooting and archery ranges, horseback riding facilities, private tennis clubs and community gardens. 

“So far all our summer tournaments are still on schedule, said Steve Shukaitis, director and coach of Akadema Elite, an 18-under girls travel softball organization that draws from Bergen, Passaic and Morris counties. “Normally, we would be practicing at least two times a week right around this time of May and as the high school season is winding down. For now, though, that plan is on hold until further notice. … It’s a wait and see approach.”

Akadema Elite plays mostly out-of-state tournaments. Despite the unknown and what the future holds, Shukaitis has been in contact with his players and families and makes sure everyone is staying softball ready.

“The girls have group chats and I keep in touch via texts and emails,” Shukaitis said. “We’ve introduced some online coaching clinics and virtual training. It’s all we can do right now. We hope to get back on the field soon and play through August.”