Sports Crossfire: Should sports return?

KAAN KOCABAL REPORTER

Ever since the pandemic stopped the world in its tracks, sports everywhere have been abruptly canceled in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Although professional sports were recently brought back to action, it is still too early for high school athletes to return to their school teams.

Even though private club sports have returned with safety measures in place, it’s still not safe to think everything can go back to normal for student athletes. Ultimately, we are still amid a dangerous pandemic, and returning to sports is not a safe option for students at McLean.

In Virginia, fall and winter sports have been postponed to December, and they should be postponed even further unless conditions drastically change. With the cold and flu season coming up, the virus will remain in the air much longer when the temperature is cooler. Now is not the time to start having large groups of students work out and practice together.

“I think that if there is going to be any form of school in the future, then school sports should not be happening,” sophomore JV soccer player Nathan Jun said. “It’s the best option since local sports are already going on.”

Jun plays on a local McLean travel soccer team. He is one of the many athletes who have been playing sports outside of school, putting themselves at greater risk of getting the virus.

“I have been playing for my travel soccer team since June and so far there hasn’t really been a problem practicing within my team,” Jun said. “We recently started playing games against different local teams which is pretty nerve-racking—no one wants to get COVID. If sports are going to come back with less caution, I don’t think they should even be played.”

Even soccer—a low contact sport—poses multiple risks for transmitting COVID-19. Football, on the other hand, is an incredibly tactile sport and would be a major risk for everyone involved, including fans.

“Football games would be affected because there are normally a lot of spectators,” junior McLean football player Will Walby said. “Spectators wouldn’t be allowed if sports returned. Sports games are places where lots of interactions happen, so there is a high chance of spreading COVID.”

In football, there are a maximum of 55 players on a team, plus the team staff and other programs that are permitted to be on the field at the same time. Even if people were not allowed to watch in person, the sheer number of players and staff on the field would be unsafe.

“I have been training ever since I was ready to play again, and even though it would suck to miss another season, I wouldn’t want to risk my health because that can affect me [in the] long term,” Walby said.

FCPS needs to cancel all school sports for the rest of the year. Making the decision to not have students participate in any sports this year should not be challenging, and the safety and health of McLean athletes should be prioritized above everything else. Bringing sports back too soon is not worth the risk.

NOAH BARNES REPORTER

The online school experience has been limiting for students and staff. School sports—a source of joy, school spirit and irreplaceable high school memories—have been canceled until December. Instead of being outside playing sports, students are sitting at home all day absorbing the blue light beaming off of their laptops. McLean students desperately need a breath of fresh air and school pride.

Although there are limits on large group gatherings, the successful return of private sports clubs at both the local and professional level has sparked hope in many student athletes’ hearts. It is time for sports to return to McLean.

Local teams like McLean Youth Soccer and Arlington Soccer have had success returning safely. Several clubs have resumed their seasons without an outbreak, making it easy to see that the return of school sports can be conducted safely and efficiently with the right health precautions.

“When we play in my volleyball club, safety is a big priority,” junior Julianna McFarland said. “When we practiced at Madeira, we had to wear masks and were provided with some Under Armour masks that are easier to breathe out of. ”

Safety measures such as these help lower the chance of a student contracting the virus. Students that don’t catch the virus can’t spread it. So far, there have been zero confirmed coronavirus cases from local soccer and volleyball clubs since returning from the hiatus.

“As long as we can do it safely, yes, I do think we should try to return to sports. Along with all of our extracurricular activities, sports provide an outlet to our students and give them something fun to look forward to each day,” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said.

If school sports don’t return, athletes will

lose valuable experience with their teams, costing them the opportunity to represent their school on the field.

“My soccer club is still playing at a high level despite the virus. It has had no impact on our play, but if teams that have been

out for a long time don’t return, they could lose their chance to continue to play at the highest level. This includes school teams,” junior Will Mahoney said.

For those who can’t afford to pay for private clubs, school sports are the only way for them to have a team experience and the much-needed social interaction that comes with playing a sport. Returning to an environment that encourages camaraderie and teamwork would significantly improve the well-being of students amid this isolating pandemic.

“School sports would improve the mental health of students for sure,” McFarland said. “We can’t expect to sit in front of computers all day and have no physical activity.”

Social distancing can still be practiced in the stands by spectators during games. With McLean’s new ability to livestream home games while they take place, sports can even be enjoyed safely from people’s homes.

Sports are a huge part of the high school experience, and being a part of school teams will be some of students’ most cherished memories from their four years at McLean. With proper safety measures in place, McLean athletes deserve to have a chance to play this season.