Sports or normalcy; take your pick
By Sophie Salem, Staff Writer
The COVID-19 pandemic has given athletes the option to travel outside of California to play competitively in states with lower cases, which is completely unsafe and should not be allowed. After not social distancing during their time away, travelling athletes come back to California, possibly infecting the rest of the state. This is truly unfair for Californians who are working hard to stabilize the virus and its consequences.
As COVID-19 cases started to spike in California back in March, sports teams have had no choice but to wear masks and resist contact as much as possible while in California. Without games, athletes have a hard time getting recruited and must find alternative options. Nonetheless, teams have been travelling to different states in order to play games without masks and with full contact.
Starting just a few weeks ago, various athletes have been travelling to Arizona to play games and get film for college recruiting. Without recruitment footage, players on teams in California would fall far behind teams in other states, which many players find unfair. So, Arizona has welcomed California with open arms, as COVID-19 is not as big of a risk. Still, Arizona is showing an immense amount of cases with only slightly lower numbers. Just because the rules regarding COVID-19 in Arizona do not seem to be as strict as California’s restrictions does not mean travelling to compete is safe. Californians are coming out of a heavily infected state and bringing the virus to Arizona. In addition, because athletes are not playing with masks or taking extra precautions, they are coming back to California and possibly bringing more cases, just as health officials and citizens are trying hard to decrease them. Lauren Kozmor (’22) plays soccer for LA Breakers FC, a competitive club soccer team, and her team just recently travelled to Arizona.
“I don’t think it’s completely safe because we aren’t required to get tested before we go,” Kozmor said.
The only precautions taken are a mandatory temperature check for all athletes, but no fever does not necessarily mean no COVID-19. This is a massive problem and more safety measures must be taken.
Though the competing athletes are travelling separately and staying in different hotel rooms, this is a risky move for both states. It is understandable that teams are extremely eager to play after having not been able to play for months, but this is not worth the possible dangers. Families will do anything it takes to make sure their child can play their sport, however not all athletes can make the trip. Some players live in high-risk homes where they can not even take the smallest risk, forcing them to miss out on opportunities to be scouted and improve their skills. Under any other circumstance, these athletes would be able to participate, but the virus is holding them back and forcing them to fall behind their teammates.
However, different sports have different regulations, meaning some involve more contact than others. For example, soccer players are able to play with a mask, while some other athletes, such as swimmers, cannot wear a mask when partaking in their sport. Nonetheless, swimming is not a contact sport, which makes it supposedly more safe. Whatever the guidelines, it is evidently risky to be in the same area with numerous people right now at the height of the pandemic.
Though travelling to other states to play sports is a great opportunity for athletes, it is not fair to athletes that cannot play and should not be allowed. Athletes are bringing the virus back and forth which spreads COVID-19, just when we need cases to decrease. Additionally, some players are held back from travelling as they have family members at risk of getting the virus. This is not a fair compromise to all athletes and needs to be thought through again.
Featured Art by Ella Rose, Staff Writer