When it comes to after school activities and extracurriculars, sports are the most popular activity amongst not only high school students, but students of younger ages. This activity can be performed in a wide variety of different sports, from basketball to golf, tennis, swimming, volleyball, soccer, softball, and many more. In today’s day and age, students are heartbroken toward the fact that COVID-19 has taken away the opportunity to play sports.
According to the National Alliance for Youth Sports, programs promote the value and importance of sports and physical activities in the emotional, physical, social, and mental development of children of children.
Many students utilize sports as an outlet to relieve themselves from stress, to boost their self-esteem, or just to stay physically fit and active. Along with these self benefits, sports also allow students to develop teamwork and leadership skills amongst their peers and teammates.
“Basketball gave me the opportunity to not only make new teammates, but also friends,” Lauren Zantos, a varsity basketball player at Sierra Pacific High School said. “It allowed me to take my mind off of whatever I have going on at school, and it was also a way for me to stay active and develop healthy lifestyle habits.”
Zantos, along with many other student-athletes feel as if they had a part of themselves torn away without being able to play sports. It especially affected those who have sports as their second home, playing in high school league, travel teams, and all-year-around sports as well.
“I miss the environment of everyone encouraging each other on, cheering for each other and overall just being happy,” said Haleigh Fagundes, varsity volleyball player at Sierra Pacific High School. “Volleyball was a way that I could learn proper sportsmanship etiquette, along with learning how to control my emotions and put them out in a positive way. Because of the pandemic, I feel like I have been restricted and I don’t have a way to channel out my energy.”
Since school has come back into session, many student-athletes believe that their sports should resume too. They are willing to take any precautions that are necessary to allow them to participate in their extracurriculars. Both coaches and players are anxious to get back into the game, and are grateful for the chance to even practice let alone a season.
Isabel Rojas, a freshman at Sierra Pacific High School said, “It is my first year of high school and I was looking forward to my first year of volleyball at the high school level. I feel that sports should be allowed to resume because school is back in session, so it wouldn’t be any difference to play sports.”
Although the country is in the midst of a pandemic, students should be allowed the opportunity to play sports. This allows them to have a sense of normality in high school, as well as the chance to receive an outlet. An outlet that is needed to relieve stress, spend quality time with teammates, and produce healthy habits along with boosting self esteem during these tough times.
