Instructor pilot reported thinking tower instructions for them were for another aircraft resulting i...

Narrative:

I was training a student in the local ZZZ area (ZZZ). After completing training maneuvers [xx] miles east of ZZZ we returned to ZZZ for touch and go landings. After the 2nd landing we climbed to [an] upwind leg. The tower controller was talking to me and another aircraft in the pattern. He gave an instruction to the other aircraft which was doing another touch and go. I heard the controller say extend upwind he will call the crosswind turn. At the time I made a quick comment correcting my student on his climb speed. I believed the controller was talking to the other aircraft. I proceeded to make a normal left crosswind turn and continue a normal traffic pattern. As I was on downwind the controller advised me I should have been on crosswind. I apologized and informed him I didn't realize that instruction was for us. ZZZ has been working with minimum staffing due the pandemic. A single controller handles three positions clearance delivery; ground control; and tower. With this in mind I would've chosen to do touch and go landings at an airport with less traffic. I will be sure to be cautious about this fact until air traffic and controller staffing goes back to normal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Instructor pilot reported thinking Tower instructions for them were for another aircraft resulting in a heading deviation. Reporter cited Tower staffing issues due the COVID-19 pandemic as a contributing factor.

Narrative: I was training a student in the local ZZZ area (ZZZ). After completing training maneuvers [XX] miles east of ZZZ we returned to ZZZ for touch and go landings. After the 2nd landing we climbed to [an] upwind leg. The Tower Controller was talking to me and another aircraft in the pattern. He gave an instruction to the other aircraft which was doing another touch and go. I heard the Controller say extend upwind he will call the crosswind turn. At the time I made a quick comment correcting my student on his climb speed. I believed the Controller was talking to the other aircraft. I proceeded to make a normal left crosswind turn and continue a normal traffic pattern. As I was on downwind the Controller advised me I should have been on crosswind. I apologized and informed him I didn't realize that instruction was for us. ZZZ has been working with minimum staffing due the pandemic. A single Controller handles three positions Clearance Delivery; Ground Control; and Tower. With this in mind I would've chosen to do touch and go landings at an airport with less traffic. I will be sure to be cautious about this fact until air traffic and controller staffing goes back to normal.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Attributes
ACN	1742311
Time
Date	202005
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Instructor
Qualification	Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Commercial
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Instructor pilot reported thinking tower instructions for them were for another aircraft resulting in a heading deviation. Reporter cited tower staffing issues due the covid-19 pandemic as a contributing factor.