Sports have been pushed to the back-burner because of the coronavirus pandemic, and members of Phoenix Rising FC are feeling the impact.

“The worst part about it is you have unbelievable weather in Phoenix this time of year. Our fields have never looked so nice,” said Rick Schantz, the third-year head coach of the Valley’s premier professional soccer club. “It’s an awful tease.”

Schantz still spent his Tuesday morning lingering around Casino Arizona Field, clinging onto any semblance of familiarity and routine that he would, otherwise, experience during the club’s 34-match regular season schedule that kicked off on March 7.

But, aside from a few quick visits to his team’s stomping grounds, Schantz has been holed up indoors, following government recommendations to practice social distancing.

Schantz said he realized the severity of what’s essentially evolved into an unprecedented situation fairly early on, but that didn’t change how he initially felt when he learned of the USL Championship’s decision to temporarily suspend matches and training sessions.

“It kind of pulled my heart out of my chest, and then made me realize ‘ok, there’s a bigger picture than just (soccer),’” Schantz said. “Public safety and health is more important for everyone in our community, and that’s really all we’re thinking about.”

While the reigning USL Championship Coach of the Year wishes the club’s trek to future trophies had not been interrupted following a convincing 6-1 thrashing versus Portland Timbers 2, he’s doing his best to stay optimistic — even if it means living vicariously through a joyous crowd of imaginary supporters in his dreams.

“To look out at the grass and to see the lines, it’s just like ‘my gosh, I can’t wait to get the guys back out there’” said Schantz. “I feel like there is a silver lining behind all of this, (and) it’s going to (bring) our team even closer together.”

Understanding an unusual scenario

Jordan Schweitzer, one of Rising FC’s 10 newcomers, said he’s fortunate because his mother and step-father moved to Arizona nearly two-and-a-half years ago.

Many of the club’s players, particularly those with roots in Europe, don't have loved ones nearby.

“I never imagined this in a million years, but it keeps you on your toes…and looking at those things that you can control moving forward,” said Schweitzer, a 25-year-old midfielder who appeared in 67 matches for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the last two seasons.

Schweitzer said most of the players weren’t caught off guard by the league’s plan to halt play because they had been following other professional sports leagues' decisions as COVID-19 spread.

“I think it was something that as players, we expected to come,” Schweitzer said. “Once we saw the trajectory of kind of the potential path the league was going to take, I think that was the most awkward time as players, and I’m sure we’re not the only profession in that gray area.”

Schantz had heard rumors that the USL Championship was next in line to put future performances at a standstill, once Major League Soccer announced its intentions. But those whispers didn’t ease the coach’s mind.

“I was disappointed only from a selfish standpoint, to be honest,” Schantz said. “We were looking forward to a very difficult road trip in Salt Lake City, and then all of a sudden, it’s Thursday night and (we’re) just told to stop.”

Originally, Schantz said he was informed that the delay would just be a matter of days. But, after the USL adhered to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance to avoid gatherings of 50 or more people for eight weeks, and extended the temporary suspension in place, it’s shaping up to be a two-month plus moratorium.

Now, Rising FC’s hot-start has shifted into a mini, second offseason, of sorts.

Schweitzer said the transition has been interesting — basically moving from the official offseason into a successful preseason and back into an extended period of downtime.

“At first, I was itching to get going,” Schweitzer said. “We’re staying as busy as we can as far as the soccer side of things go (and) trying to stay as close as we can to the level that we were at because we put in a ton of good work.”

The players and staff are scattered across the state, which means they have had to work hard with the resources they have in their homes, or online.

They've learned much can be accomplished via technology.

Schantz is confident that tactical handouts, scripted fitness packets and designated, daily check-ins with assistant coaches will account for the lost time. He said he’s not concerned about players taking a step back during this strange period of isolation.

“We’re able now, to use different mediums to teach them the same information,” said Schantz, adding he expects the club to pick up right where it left off when they regroup. “Once you have a team that understands one another, and how you want to play the game, and they all commit to it, (and) believe in the system and the style, as long as they’re motivated, that’s a hard team to beat.”

Finding a new routine

Schweitzer, currently, starts and ends his day in Goodyear, at his family’s side.

He said he’s just as determined to make an impact in his first season with Rising FC as he was after being praised by Schantz for his non-stop engine following a training session in February, and ripping off a pair of shots in the waning moments of the team’s first regular-season victory approximately three weeks ago.

“I think something that we’re all doing right now is finding ways to still have the things, and do the things that we want to do,” Schweitzer said. “Just across the board, whether you’re playing soccer or not, I think it’s (important) to find the positives out of a situation that is different.”

The primary difference, now, is that most of Schweitzer’s hard work and communication with the club revolves around FaceTime and Zoom conference calls, and outlined workout plans specifically designed and sent to individual players by sports performance director Steve Fell.

Schantz said his number one priority has been to ensure the safety and health of his players and their families. But, in doing so, he also said it’s important to keep player’s minds active, and not overwhelmed by the global hysteria.

“The last thing we want anyone doing is being worried, or sad or disappointed at this time,” Schantz said. “I think all the guys understand that. They know that this is a very, very unique situation.”

To help alleviate some of the widespread fear, Schantz and his fellow assistants have developed a method to learn more about the players, their life experiences and get more in-tune with their personal lives.

At 11 a.m. each day, assistant coaches connect with players they’re responsible to check-in on, and then report back to Schantz. At 1 p.m. Rising FC coaches join a conference call to provide updates, discuss the week’s plans and tweak existing tactics or possible strategy by extensively studying film and reviewing past performances.

“The idea was to try and keep it as normal as possible,” Schantz said. “It’s hard, though, because you don’t quite know when that next game is, so I don’t want to be killing them right now.”

Until the regular-season suspension is lifted, Rising FC players and coaches must continue to grind, even if it means fine-tuning ball skills in the parking lot, running paths along Tempe Town Lake or using items from home as make-shift weights.

Schweitzer is one of many players who have expressed a rejuvenated appreciation for the game.

“At the end of the day we still get to wake up, and there’s a lot to be thankful for,” Schweitzer said. “I think that ability to adapt is something that has been tested.”

Schantz said he’s heard from quite a few, simply to reminisce about all the things that they miss most: the freshly-cut grass, extraordinary fans jam-packed in the stadium and sheer joy that sweeps over everyone involved in a winning effort.

“I know the guys are dying to get back on the field to play,” Schantz said.

Reach the reporter at Rob.kleifield@arizonarepublic.com or at (480) 268-1903. Follow his Twitter @RobKleifield

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