Hospitals and Healthcare

Youth sports during this pandemic is a very difficult subject to tackle. I am a huge advocate for youth sports and I think that is an essential outlet for kids. Sports really help kids growing up learn a million different lessons about self-control, teamwork, leadership, and who they are as a person. I also super important for kids' mental health along with physical health that they have an outlet and the opportunity to interact with other kids, even if from a distance. I really do not want kids now to be robbed of the opportunity to learn these lessons, but if play can not be done safely, we will be stuck in this bubble for a very long time. This article talks about long term risks of COVID-19 and how kids who had the virus, symptomatic or not, need to be cleared by a doctor before returning to play. I think a lot of parents of young athletes are overlooking the severity of this because they want to get back to some form of normalcy. Parents think that since their kid is young, healthy, and athletic, that this can't hurt them. Especially since my dad played soccer growing up, I always grew up hearing "rub some dirt in it" and "walk it off, you'll be fine." Parents now need to recognize this and protect their children. I know some club soccer programs that have done a great job adapting to the virus in ways that keep the players active and safe, and I know some programs that have done the exact opposite. Some programs require masks for players and coaches, temperature checks at the field, no spectators, and strictly local or intra-club games.  I know other programs that practice in small enclosed gyms without masks, spectators, and travel al over the country for games. It is super important that youth sports be kept alive during this pandemic, but in order for everyone to benefit from it, it has to be done safely.