CON: Sports During This Pandemic Is a Risk Not Worth Taking

As we speak, the world is still in a national crisis as the coronavirus pandemic is still circulating the world. So why must high school sports teams continue to practice when student athletes can stay at home, practice alone and be safe?

As the number of COVID-19 cases rose the past few months, high school athletes continued to practice in smaller groups to prepare for their upcoming season, creating a higher risk for students and coaches to catch the deadly virus.

Some people might say these small group practices help the team bond. But according to the rules issued by the district, each team must limit groups to 12 athletes to one coach at a time. So it’s not truly team bonding if it’s a fraction of the team at a time. 

The general public has seen, on multiple occasions, college and professional athletes testing positive for COVID-19. One of these athletes include the projected No. 1 NFL draft pick in 2021, Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. If someone who is supposed to take serious precautions during the pandemic catches COVID-19, then what is stopping the average high school athlete from catching it as well?

It’s scientifically proven by the CDC  that people contract COVID-19 when exposed to someone through actions like coughing, breathing, and sneezing. All of these occur when playing most any sport. If my teammates aren’t socially distant, then there could easily be another case added to the list of millions of people who have already caught the coronavirus..

Some might argue that there is no need to stress out about the athletes since they have a low chance of even facing the side effects of COVID-19. While this is true, athletes can still transfer the virus to those who are at high risk, such as coaches and staff.

In college football, there have already been 19 confirmed positive tests for college football coaches. This includes Alabama’s coach, Nick Saban, one of the best college coaches of all time, Kent State’s coach Sean Lewis, and University of Florida’s coach Dan Mullen. 

COVID-19 has shown to have long term effects like heart damage, lung damage, and blood clots for most older people and those with serious medical problems. This means there is a higher risk for older coaches and staff to face the long term effects of COVID-19.

No one is exempt from catching the coronavirus, not even the coaches and players, so why would schools risk not just the athlete’s health but the coaches as well?

As a water polo player, I really do miss playing sports. I love making new friends and the competitive games we play weekly. But if we keep allowing these weekly practices, I and other athletes and coaches may have to wait much longer to experience those feelings again.