While the coronavirus has put a halt to sports across the nation, the College of the Canyons football team is finding creative ways to stay connected, continue tradition and stay fit while California’s “Safer At Home” order remains in effect.
Canyons Head Coach Ted Iacenda shared the challenge via Twitter, where he asked players to record and share a video of themselves on Twitter doing as many “burpees” as they could in one minute for “Quarantine Competition Thursday.”
The initiative is an effort by Iacenda to continue the team’s off-season Competition Thursday tradition while sports are suspended during the coronavirus pandemic.
The event typically sees the players compete in any of a wide array of events calling on the players’ various athletic skill sets. The contests are intended to instill team unity and promote competition while also working to improve the players’ physical conditioning.
Both individual and team winners are crowned at the end of each activity, as players compete for themselves but also for either the offensive or defensive unit.
To spread the challenge, each player was also asked to challenge at least one teammate when they posted their video.
As an added incentive for players, Iacenda announced prizes for the first player to complete the challenge and to the five players who managed to do the most burpees in their minute.
“Quarantine Cougar” t-shirts, as Iacenda dubbed them, are still being designed, but are expected to be ready by the time school re-opens.
Iacenda also offered the t-shirt incentive to players who compete in all the “Quarantine Competitions” over the coming weeks.
Submissions quickly began to appear on Twitter Thursday, with Iacenda eventually extending the challenge to the broader Cougar Football family.
“I am calling all Past, Present and Future Cougars. Competition Thursday is here and we want you all to participate! It would mean so much to get all the different generations of this FAMILY together! So please give us 1 minute of your quarantine! Stay Safe!,” Iacenda Tweeted.
The coaching staff, including Iacenda himself, answered the call, as well as several notable recent alumni, including 2018 All-American linebacker Tariq Speights.
https://twitter.com/tariqsp8s/status/1243369766577770500
Dozens of submissions rolled in through Friday morning from players, coaches and alumni.
Eventually, the burpees were tallied and the offense was announced the team winner of the inaugural Quarantine Competition Thursday, but the defense will have a chance to avenge their loss in this week’s challenge.
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