One of the problems that COVID-19 presents is that there is no hard and fast rule for every area of life. The fundamentals remain the same, though: Wear a mask, stay home as much as possible, wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer, and keep a safe distance from others when out. Not everything is black and white, but these minimal health standards remain the same. But what about when deciding to go back to the sport we love the most? Here are some safety precautions to consider when deciding to go back to our favorite sport.
Don’t participate if you’re sick.
There are no two ways about it: If you’re sick, don’t leave the house. If you have any of the symptoms of COVID-19 (dry cough, muscle pains, fever, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath, and others), you need to stay home, not just for your safety but that of others. Even if you don’t have COVID-19, your immune system remains low when you’re sick with other viruses, making you more susceptible to the virus that causes COVID-19, especially with the new variant that experts say is more infectious.
If it’s an official tournament, ask the organizers about their safety policies.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that there is an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission when playing team sports, but there are numerous ways to reduce the risk. Ask the organizers of the tournament if they have plans to implement these recommendations, such as enforcing physical-distancing, choosing outdoor settings or a larger field of play, the use of masks, encouraging the limiting of travel, good ventilation, sanitation of frequently touched surfaces or shared gear or equipment, the duration of the games or matches, and the number of people participating.
Bring your own gear and don’t share them with others.
If your sport requires equipment like gloves, helmets, balls, sports mouthguards, and others, make sure to bring your own so you don’t have to borrow from the tournament or the venue. Bring your own water bottle as well to minimize your need to touch or use drinking fountains. If you must borrow gear, make sure to clean and disinfect them before and after use. Don’t borrow or share clothing, towels, or any material you use to wipe your hands or face. Make sure to avoid sharing drink containers like coolers and other food and utensils.
Practice physical-distancing as much as possible.
The CDC also advises coaches to focus on building players’ cardiovascular conditioning and individual skills to limit close contact between team players. Ask your coach to enforce this recommendation—it will be a great opportunity for you to build your strengths as a player. Keep a safe distance of at least six feet from other people during practices. Be a good role model to your teammates by keeping your mask on (make sure it fits perfectly against the sides of your face and covers your nose and mouth), and by not spitting anywhere.
Consider switching to sports that don’t require physical contact.
At least until the pandemic is happening. One of the things that increase your risk of being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19 is by coming into close contact with people that you don’t live with. That’s why a rule of thumb is to pick activities that allow you to keep a physical distance of at least two meters—it presents a much lower risk of infection. There are a lot of activities that you can enjoy without having to travel far, whether you’re visiting your favorite state or national park, or just walking around your neighborhood. Here are some low-risk outdoor sports or activities you can consider while the pandemic is still in full swing:
- Walking, running, and hiking
- Fitness classes, held online or outside, that allow physical distance
- Rollerblading and biking
- Snowshoeing
- Fishing and hunting
- Sledding
- Golfing
- Snowboarding
- Rock or ice climbing
- Ice skating
- Kayaking, canoeing, diving, boating, or sailing
- Fly fishing
- Skiing, including cross-country and downhill skiing
Stay Home During Lockdowns
At the end of the day, however, if there are government-mandated lockdowns are in place, we need to do our part in staying home. While it’s understandably inconvenient and many people have been negatively impacted emotionally and mentally, we need to participate and do our part so that we can finally see an end to this pandemic. For as long as we choose to go about our business without taking safety precautions, we will have to continue to live with this virus instead of completely eradicating it.
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