Even though kids are going back to play club sports, research shows that kids (ages 6 to 18) are only half as physically active in September than they were in March pre-shutdown. COVID is affecting sports in negative ways. Ever since last March, sports have not been the same, and we could only start playing them in July. As a high school and club soccer player, I have seen the absence of sports taking a huge toll on my physical and social health.  We should prioritize sports and physical activity for kids because of online school kids playing high school and club sports are not getting as much time at there school or club.The cancellations of many sports as taken a toll on many people’s social and mental health. Through sports kids have been able to socialize with friends, but ever since the pandemic struck kids have been taken away that privilege, because of this and even more online school kids have not been able to get the recommended social Interaction.  In history sports have been a great way to communicate with others even through small youth clubs and groups. With no fans during these hard times people are not getting to see their re families during games or there favorite sports teams.  Many fans and parents rely on these social aspects during sports in order to catch up with old friends and even watch and be  there kid play the they love. In today’s pandemic world, parents and other sports fans do not have the liberty to see there favorite sports teams or even watch their kids play a sport.

During these hard times Covid has decreased the amount of physical movement, something people desperately need. After the pandemic hit and gyms, pools, sports, and even parks shut down causing people to get less physical activity than the normal  recommended amount. People during the pandemic show increased screen times with people putting on more weight and developing irregular sleep patterns. COVID is not allowing people to care for there bodies as they were doing  pre-pandemic. Sports helped encourage people to lose weight and get to bed on time to perform well. Sports also encouraged people to get out If the house and go play with friends and even competitively.

With the decrease of physical activity people are feeling more stressed out and feeling more anxious and depressed. It is proven that an hour of physical activity a day helps to relieve stress and anxiety and because of no sports, people are not getting that physical activity needed. Sports would help kids deal with online and hybrid school better. Sports would help act as a anti stressor and help get kids minds of school. When we only have online school and no sports our mind tend to only focus on school, but with sports It can allow our minds to focus on different things.

Some say that sports events are maskless super spreader events, but evidence shows that counties are coming out with laws that will make sports players and teams wear masks while playing. Evidence also shows that If teams and players follow protocol like getting your temperature checked and coaches and prenatal wearing masks these games shouldn’t be a super spreader event.

Ever since the pandemic struck mental, physical, and social health has been struggling. Re-instituting sports should be a priority for the well being of our communities. You should care about COVID affecting you socially, mentally, and physically through sports because without sports you have to find new ways to go outside and get your physical activity time. Even though that is hard with online school and quarantined you have to find creative ways to talk to your friends, and get your physical activity in. I feel like Regis has been doing a good job about keeping practices going and making sure that every team gets to practice. Now I think Regis should take the next step by increasing the size of these practices, so players can actually get to practice with their whole team.