Just days before the start of the high school football season, the West Haven Blue Devils had to practice indoors in an off-campus gym during their school district’s third hot weather half day.
Nicolle Camara’s son is a senior on the team.
“I get excited every Friday night to go watch him play,” she said. “Yesterday, he came home from practice and said they were going to have to practice at 5 a.m. which I didn’t have a problem with but then I guess it didn’t come to fruition.”
Camara is the assistant athletic director at the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven. She found out the gym was available Tuesday afternoon and suggested her son’s team practice there.
“It was really helpful really grateful, thank you,” Nik Camara said to his mom.
Coach Richard Boshea told NBC Connecticut he prefers to practice outside.
“Coaches will keep them safe, the 1970s ended a long time ago,” he said.
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But the coach added he appreciates the JCC sharing its air conditioned gym for the afternoon.
“Well it’s a bigger gym so that helps somewhat and we can stay in it a little longer,” he said.
The missed practice time on the football field means the coaching staff has had to adjusted how they prepare the boys for the start of a new season.
“More classwork, more film watching, things that aren’t involving contact or conditioning,” Boshea said, “so it’s tough.”
While it still feels like mid-July, the season starts this Friday night at home against North Haven.
“When gameday does come we’re flying around doing what we have to do,” said Camara, who plays tight end and defensive lineman.
His mom is glad she didn’t have to worry about him putting on pads in the high heat and humidity.
“I know he’s safe and comfortable,” she said, “all these kids are safe and comfortable and going to go home to their mothers after practice.”
After the gym at the JCC closed for more than a year following a fire in December 2016, West Haven High School hosted some of the community center’s sports league.
