Being a student-athlete is already a lot to handle. Add to that the stress of staying safe during a pandemic. That’s a lot to ask, especially from young adults.
Why is playing sports more important than staying safe during the middle of a pandemic? Who would have ever thought that this would be a question, sports over health?
All over the country, collegiate athletes have been given a choice to opt-in or out of this year’s season, a nearly impossible decision for a young athlete who wants to play the sport they love. And it was announced in October that all athletes would be given a blanket waiver, meaning that they would receive another year of eligibility.
Instead of giving out blanket waivers, why didn’t they cancel sports for the whole year?
How is it that the whole world should be wearing masks and staying home, but athletes can compete without masks and social distancing? It doesn’t make any sense.
We all anxiously watched as the NBA tested the ‘bubble’ to continue the NBA playoffs. Even though there weren’t any cases reported, and the bubble seemed to have worked, it was still a huge risk for all players, coaches, and employees at the resort. Players were isolated from the whole world, including their families. These NBA players made a lot of sacrifices that young athletes shouldn’t have to make.
The NBA bubble worked because all the players were in one place and had to follow the same rules. A lot of money went into the bubble to make sure it was safe and well equipped for the players. Many collegiate athletes aren’t as fortunate as the NBA players to have a bubble, and that’s one reason why so many colleges are struggling to keep players/staff safe.
But now, most collegiate athletes won’t be able to go home for holidays because, if they do, they would, of course, have to quarantine, causing them to miss games. Again, it’s an example of prioritizing sports over athletes’ well being and mental health.
Every week, games are being canceled and postponed due to COVID cases, and players and staff are frequently testing positive. As Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski said recently, “I don’t think it feels right to anybody. Kids aren’t going to be able to go home for Christmas, a time where they should for mental health. I know the NCAA is worried about the end game, and they’re not as worried about the game we are playing right now.”
I’ll bet Coach K isn’t the only coach who feels this way.
Being a student-athlete is already a lot to handle. Add to that the stress of staying safe during a pandemic. That’s a lot to ask, especially from young adults. Coach K described playing sports during a pandemic as “sad.” Athletes are literally being put at risk. It’s that plain and simple.
It’s ridiculous to be playing right now. With the number of cases increasing daily, sports need to be canceled. All people need to be protected, including athletes.
