As we now enter the eight month of the Covid-19 pandemic, no solution has been found to combat this virus. As days go by we possibly are becoming one step closer to a temporary solution, but how does this affect the people? How does this affect younger students in schools and even athletes at these schools? Some may think that this disease barely impacts the students and the student athletes at these schools, but they are wrong. Even sports as a whole have been negatively affected, whether it’s the tickets for the games or the food that people buy to enjoy sitting in the stands watching their favorite team, this pandemic has hurt these sports teams and businesses, but on the flip side, streaming platforms to stream live sports have made a big profit from this virus. Whether it is student athletes or professional athletes that are participating in these sports, sports will never be the same.

Millions of student athletes around the globe depend on sports, they have a gift, and they don’t want it to go to waste.  Sports are their ticket to success and Covid-19 is taking it away. Some athletes will not stop until they are able to play the sport that they are so passionate about. Being one myself, I understand that it is imperative that we need change, and that will only start with the people. Everyone needs to wear their masks and social distance, and if they truly do care about others and their success in life they will understand that this affects them more than they think. Even though contracting this virus for young athletes and unfortunately passing away from it is slim, it’s still possible. 8 million students play highschool sports in the U.S. alone, and roughly ⅓ of them aren’t allowed to participate in any sports at their school due to this virus. Which means that their dream will forever stay a dream.

When it comes to sports as a whole, people will be restricted to stay at their homes and watch their sons/daughters, or favorite team from their couch. Even though this is perfect for streaming platforms to make good profit, it will never be the same for the fans or the players to experience how it once used to be. For the players the games will be silent, they feed off the energy of the crowd and when it’s silent, it may affect their game. When it comes to fans, the same thing happens where they aren’t able to be there and support their sons, daughters, and favorite teams. A lot of people go to watch these games to converse with friends, and meet with family to enjoy watching the games, and that won’t even be able to happen anymore. If it isn’t bad enough that people are staring at their phones and televisions all day, this doesn’t help the cause. As people will start to fade away from sports, they will most likely become less and less watched to the point that people won’t go through that path in life. Sports will fade away for good, all because people can’t listen to pandemic rules, wear your mask and stay away from people. If you don’t sports will fade and another entertainment option for the fans will be gone.

Overall, people need to listen, wait out this pandemic, wait for something that will combat the virus and keep it under control, wear your masks, social distance and things will go back to the way they used to be. Students will be able to attend schools in person, athletes will be able to get back to focusing on their dreams and staying in good shape, the fans will be able to keep these entertainment options, supporting one another, and going in person to these games.  It all starts now, and you are the change that will be the future.