A message to everyone involved in Superpesis in 2020



I tend not to write purely to thank people, but this year has been a very different year indeed. From the early signs of Coronavirus spreading across Finland and in deed the rest of the world, it looked to be a very dark and sad year for many.


The restrictions that many countries put in place to protect their citizens and their health care systems meant that certain activities could no longer take place, sport around the world had to find a way of adapting. By April and May 2020 the situation in respect of a Superpesis season this year looked very bleak and a number of teams (if not all of them) started to consider how they could survive financially if the season was cancelled.


With reducing infection numbers and some sacrifices from everyone in Finland, the prospects of a season started to emerge and by June 2020 the league had put together a plan with agreement of the teams. Superpesis 2020 would go ahead, but there would need to be a cautious approach to games, with limits on social gatherings in line with the Finnish Government’s rules and guidance. The season saw a remarkable first - where teams were split into geographic blocks and would only play other teams in their neighbouring blocks ad their own. This gave the 2020 final a particularly interesting angle: the two teams had never played each other in the regular season.


With a shortened season and post season, we now have our champions. As the season starts to fade into memory I want to take the time to thank everyone involved that made the season possible. The players, coaches and staff of course, but everyone who made changes, sacrifices and abided by guidance to help make sure that life could (in the most part) be as it was before.


The season this year has brought great comfort to me, as I’m sure it has been to many others. Where there has been darkness and little prospect of good, it has been a great pleasure to watch pesis and engage with such a wonderful and welcoming community. 


Thank you...


What I also want to say is that even though the season is over, there are some interesting articles I have in the works to share over the coming months, plus the September 2020 Superpesis Roundup Podcast episode will be out shortly.


Photograph

Cover -  (c) Sotkamon Jymy 2020

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