The current COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed sports, along with nearly all aspects of normal life. The changes evident in high school and club sports have varied from community to community across the United States. Season delays in high school sports in the fall, winter, and now spring seasons and club sport organizations folding operations altogether have become all too common. Even the way athletes play the game and who can support them at their games have changed. For instance, basketball and volleyball players have had to compete while wearing face masks in front of very small crowds or even no crowds at all in countless gyms throughout the nation. With one year into the sports pandemic world, the way sports move forward in the future begs many questions.
As millions of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed across the United States the last several months, one has reason to be hopeful that high school and club sports may return to some semblance of normalcy beginning this next August (2021). Complete normalcy, however, is largely unknown. Across the country, high school sports programs experienced low numbers of participants in many sports this competitive year. Reasons have varied from players not wanting to wear masks to play and parents not feeling like sports were safe for their children in the current state of the pandemic. Whatever the reason, sports took a big hit. Club sports experienced dramatic consequences, with many organizations closing their doors due to lacking numbers, numbers relied on for funding organizations’ operations.
Once the masks come off and crowds are deemed safe to return in full, there will be a longing for athletes, spectators, and communities to flock to the fields, courts, and pools as they did prior to last March. When people return in their pre-March 2020 droves to these venues and organizations, the momentum of success may face challenging recovery, but the athletes and coaches willing and eager to play “catch up” will have to carry sports positivity, just as they always have. One hope is that no one will underappreciate what sports bring to society and how important they are for young people.
Club Sports vs High School Sports 
Jared,
This was an excellent blog topic. It truly has been a crazy year in sports that no one expected. Overall, I think high schools and colleges have done a great job of still having games happen. I was very shocked to see a season happen but am so happy that it did. Sports has always been a way to bring people together and we needed that more than ever this year. Great blog!
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It was unfortunate to see COVID-19 take fans out of the stands. It’s heartbreaking because for many high school seniors, it was the last time they would play their preferred sport. With a limited number of fans allowed at games, only a small fraction of family members were able to attend. This also affected the revenue the school made. It’s good to see vaccines being rolled out so sporting events can resume back to normal.
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That last sentence is so crucial. I know many people who truly just do not care, and the lack of sports has not had an impact on them. However, when you look at all the things missing for kids, it is hard to say that sports are not an important part of our society and culture. There is something about it that brings people together and has more than just surface level importance.
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Jared,
You are right, way too many kids have lost on on full seasons of playing whether it is competitive or club sports. In Alaska our hockey season for high schools normally runs from November through February but they have actually just started this season. Fortunately for the kids here they are getting a chance, but far too many have not. I think the big hope right now is that things will return to normalcy for the next school year, but that doesn’t help those kids who are seniors who have lost possibly their last chance to play, or even kids who age out of their club teams. You are also right when you mention those who may underappreciate youth sports, I know as a parent I appreciate what they mean to my daughter, I hope that most parents feel the same when things do return.
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I completely agree on how important sports are to society and young people. Many young students do not have a place to escape from issues at home and sports are their place of freedom. Continuing to take opportunities away from children can cause students to fall behind in school and continue to be successful.
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