Teaching & Learning in a Pandemic: Spring 2021

Supporting Student Participation in Extracurricular Sport Activities

By: Shonna Roberts

Reflection:

Did you play a youth sport? How would you have felt if it suddenly was taken away? How about if you were not sure when or if you would be able to play again?

Learning Target 1

At the end of this lesson, readers will be able to discuss the importance of youth sports availability.

Learning Target 2

At the end of this lesson, readers will be able to list three ways the pandemic has affected athletes and youth sports.

2.1 Most youth sports were shut down or severely limited during the pandemic.

2.2 Many athletes suffered anxiety and depression from losing the ability to play or practice.

2.3 Student athletes that were in their senior and junior years were unable to be recruited by colleges due to a recruitment freeze.

What are youth sports?

Youth Sports are defined as organized sports for youth usually between ages 7 and 18 which have scheduled practices and competitions. They also have designated coaches. This can be within a school system or outside community.

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The cancellation due to the pandemic also impacted the $19 billion market attributed to youth sports. This does not include the tourism industry that relies on youth travel sports contributions (Sanderson & Brown, 2020).

For more information on the benefits of sports please review Benefits of Sports by Bradley Cardinal.

Why are they important?

According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (2021), 58 percent of American Youth participated in sports of some type in 2017. Sports have both physical and psychological benefits. The sudden absence of sports due to the COVID pandemic affected children in profound ways including increased anxiety and depression. Many lost what they felt was the only thing they felt made them who they are. While many children are finally able to return to some semblance of their sport, many others played for the last time without even knowing it.

Interview

I had the privilege to interview Jean Wright, a coach for Norview High School and Virginia Lady Eagles Fastpitch Softball Travel Team. He has been coaching sports for the last 18 years. First with his son's teams then with his daughter's and now with the Eagles and high school teams for the love of the sport. He gave a first-hand perspective on the effects that the pandemic had on athletes both in and outside of schools.

Takeaway 1

Since the middle of March 2020, the pandemic shutdown businesses, schools and even youth sports. According to Jean many athletes lost some of their performance abilities. The pandemic also affected the team cohesion and camaraderie since teams were not able to spend time together or do team building activities. (J. Wright, personal communication, February 15, 2021).

Takeaway 2

In general, sports are a social activity and the loss of that activity can and did cause a large amount of stress. That stress can cause increased anxiety and depression. Jean stated, "In some cases an individual may feel that the sport or team is all they have and the loss took an enormous toll" (J. Wright, personal communication, February 15, 2021).

Takeaway 3

Although the pandemic sped up the process of virtual recruitment, it still has a way to go. This affected junior and senior student athletes. However, coaches are doing everything in their power to train and prepare their athletes for the next level (J. Wright, personal communication, February 15, 2021).

Virginia Lady Eagles 18U team Fall/spring 2020/2021 at the Softball Nation Halloween Cup tournament. Image permission given by Travis Sutton and John Wright VLE 18U photos.

Conclusion

Although some may argue that youth sports are not something that we should be concerned with during a pandemic, I disagree. Many children find that sports give them a sense of purpose and focus. This in turn carries over to their academics. Not only does being an active participant in sports improve physical health, it also has a positive impact on mental health too (Cardinal, 2020). While there are a few lingering questions about how youth sports will be different, that does not negate the importance of the continuation of childhood sports even in times like these.

Question 1

Why is it important to have sports available to youth?

A. It allows parents to have time away from their children.

B. There are physical and psychological benefits for children who are involved in sports.

C. The children are guaranteed to play a sport in college the younger they start.

D. It is a requirement of childhood to play a sport.

Question 2

What way did the pandemic affect the process college sports recruitment?

A. Shut down completely.

B. Extended school sports seasons.

C. Visited students directly instead of at competitions.

D. It sped up the process of virtual recruitment.

ANSWERS:

References

Cardinal, B. J. (2020, September 17). Benefits of Youth Sports. ScholarsArchive@OSU.

https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/defaults/1831cr80d.

Sanderson, J., & Brown, K. (2020, September 01). COVID-19 and Youth Sports: Psychological, Developmental, and Economic Impacts. International Journal of Sport Communication, 13(3), 313- 323. 10.1123/ijsc.2020-0236

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). National Youth Sports Strategy. health.gov.

https://health.gov/our-work/physical-activity/national-youth-sports-strategy

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