The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world as we know it in a wide range of ways. Once the virus began to spread and the full extent of its risks began to be understood, countries were placed into lockdown, economies came to a halt, businesses closed entirely, hospitals overflowed, and populations were forced to adapt to a completely different way of life.
The virus has had a range of terrible and far-reaching consequences. It has claimed an extraordinary number of lives, infecting millions of people worldwide and continuing to affect many of those people, even months after their initial infection. It has also changed many people's lives financially, preventing them from working or even forcing their places of work to shut down.
In other areas of life, too, the virus' effects can be seen. The landscape of both professional and amateur sports has changed hugely in recent times, for example. Professional leagues were made to abandon their schedules entirely, while amateur clubs and groups could no longer meet, and simple sporting enthusiasts were no longer able to participate or even spectate the games they love.
Now, as the vaccine rollouts commence across the globe and the end may be in sight for this unprecedented crisis, people are starting to get back to a more normal way of life. Professional sports have resumed worldwide, and amateur groups are starting to meet up too, allowing kids and adults to engage in physical activity once more. Here are some tips you can follow to have fun safely.
Clean Your Hands and Equipment Regularly
One of our best weapons against the pandemic is good hygiene, and we've all learned the importance of washing hands correctly in order to limit the spread of the virus and reduce our own risks of catching it. This same habit needs to extend to your sporting activities too.
Whenever you're going to play sports or partake in physical activity, make sure to wash your hands regularly, ideally with alcoholic gel or antibacterial soap, and don't forget to clean all of your equipment too, like bats, balls, and so on.
Bring Your Own Equipment if Possible
The coronavirus is able to linger on various different kinds of surfaces for long periods of time, just waiting for someone to come along and touch that surface. This is why people are being encouraged to be very careful when touching things like door handles and handrails that may have been touched by many other people.
Again, the same logic extends to the sports field. When you're participating in a team game, you might touch items that have been brought along and touched by other players of the game, and this could help the virus spread from person to person. Bringing your own equipment is a good prevention strategy.
Social Distancing
During the pandemic, the phrase 'social distancing' has come into common use, and people around the world have had to get into the habit of keeping their distance from one another. This is also a good measure to reduce the spread of the virus, and it can be helpful when playing sports or sharing exercise with others.
It's not always possible to keep six feet away from every other person while playing a game or jogging along a narrow street, but you should always make the effort to try and keep your distance whenever you can.
Use Masks
Along with social distancing and hand-washing, mask-wearing has also proven to be an effective method for dealing with the virus. These days, it's not uncommon to see people walking along the streets or working in offices and other locations with masks around their noses and mouths.
You can wear masks during sports too. Referees, coaches, and spectators should always wear masks, and even players can wear masks when warming up or engaging in low-intensity activity. They may not be worn during particularly high-intensity activities, however, or if they create unnecessary risk.
Limit Group and Team Sizes
Many people wonder whether it's really possible to partake in team sports while the pandemic remains ongoing. While it may be more prudent to simply wait until everyone has been vaccinated and the world is safer, it is still possible for team sports to continue, as long as you're careful with how you approach them and understand the risks involved.
One method you can try is to limit the sizes of your groups and teams. For example, if you enjoy playing soccer or your kids are part of a soccer club, you could arrange to have smaller teams of just five players, rather than playing full matches with 11 players on either side.
Stop Playing Immediately if You Feel Unwell
It's absolutely vital for everyone participating in sports during COVID-19 to understand and acknowledge the risks they may face, as well as knowing how and when to take action if they feel that they might have the virus.
If you experience any of the signs or symptoms of the virus, which can include fatigue, high temperature, coughing, and more, you should alert your fellow players immediately, avoid playing any further part in the games, and self-isolate at home until you can be tested.
Exercise Alone for Maximum Safety
Ultimately, it's important to acknowledge that while team sports can and are continuing in many places, the risks are still high. If you want to play team games or exercise with others, you can do so, but the safer option may be to simply exercise alone.
Working out alone at home or in your local area will allow you to keep fit without the risks of contact with other people. Or, you could choose to simply play sports and exercise with members of your own household instead.
Final Word
Overall, it's clear to see that playing sports during COVID-19 brings some risks, but it can also bring benefits of social contact and physical exercise, as long as you have the right approach. Keep these tips in mind and stay safe, whatever sport you happen to play.
