Weekly Notes for Champions

Volume 19, Issue 35 | May 12, 2020

Parenting Athletes in a COVID-19 World

For more than two months now, our world has been turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are desperately missing our routines, our religious gatherings, our social outlets, and youth sports. Sports engage our children, our whole family and our community, as we gather for practices and competitions. We imagine many of your children are asking,

“When can I play with my friends again?”

“When will soccer start?”

As our country begins to re-open, there will be a lot of questions for parents about when and how to allow our children to safely return to sports. Today, we begin to address this issue for Play Like a Champion families. As we think about what will be best for our own children, we also need to make sure that we take into account the needs of children who are most in need. If we are truly “in this together,” we want to plan for making youth sports more inclusive than they have been before the pandemic hit us.

Virtual Summer Camps

Play Like a Champion is developing an “online” summer camp experience that will bring together children from all parts of the country. Led by all-star youth, high school and college coaches, this camp will focus on fun, fitness and fairness. Virtual campers will have a set schedule every day which will include meeting new people, learning new sport skills, getting exercise, engaging in a character lesson and becoming a part of a community that seeks to build a better world for all. This virtual summer camp will begin in June, with more information and registration coming soon.

Returning to Team Play

Outdoor recreation and exercise play a critical role in upholding our physical wellness and mental health. Play Like a Champion has shared numerous opportunities that encourage daily rigorous movement for children and families . As of today, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) still recommends no organized sports or activities take place, given the challenges of containing the virus. The Aspen Institute's Project Play last week released this risk assessment tool which can serve as a guide for families to understand what activities are considered low to moderate risk, while avoiding high risk activities. While Play Like a Champion focuses on youth and high school athletics, we can look for guidance from higher levels of sport. The NCAA released a statement on Resocialization in Sports that relies on experts, data and science to put the health, safety and well-being of student-athletes first. When we do return to play, we will surely see a different sport environment. Precautions will likely include:

A first-step that allows training in a practice setting either individually or in very small groups (generally no larger than 10).
Possible training ″bubbles″ - training with a specific group of people that will not change until restrictions are relaxed further.
The requirement that masks be worn and social distancing be observed on the bench and in locker rooms.
Temperature checks and potential verification that a participant is healthy and hasn’t been in recent contact with anyone who has COVID-19.
Few spectators, if any, allowed during practice or competition.

To this end, the United States Olympic and Paraolympic Committee (USOPC) also released a 13-page guide about Sports Event Planning and Return to Training Considerations . Though decisions may ultimately lie with local leaders, organizations or school administration, documents such as these will likely guide considerations at the youth and high school levels.

The $19 billion dollar youth sport industry is currently at huge risk, with projections that 20-40% of sport clubs may close. Parents must be vigilant to guard against some in this industry pushing families to come back to play before it is safe (or not adhering to safety precautions) due to economic concerns. While we all want to return to play, doing so too soon could put our children and our country at greater risk. We must be patient and heed the advice of health experts.

The Benefit and Joy of Free Play

One of the positive, unintended consequences of this pandemic may be the return of free play , which had essentially died in America. Now, without the hectic schedule of organized sports, families have more time together and are enjoying outside play on their own terms. Children are learning creative ways to free play. Play Like a Champion knows that it is through the joy of free play that children truly grow. Even when we return to organized play, encourage your child to continue to engage in free play and enjoy creative games that they can play alone or with siblings using equipment as simple as a jump rope or a tennis ball. How about a twist on the old-fashioned game of

"7 Up" with a ball ? Host a fun family competition featuring these activities!

Re-imagining Youth Sport

Our church and families must also re-think the entire structure of youth sports and address the dire need for new youth sport organizations in under-served communities. There is no justification for propping up the existing system while failing to meet the needs of children in low-income neighborhoods, an issue Aspen Institute’s Project Play documented in its 2019 National State of Play Report . The dearth of youth sports and recreational programs in low-income neighborhoods is linked to the very medical conditions giving rise to disproportionate loss of African American lives to COVID-19.

All youth sports organizations are not the same. They vary widely in their cost and impact on children. Elite clubs and travel leagues cater to the economically advantaged and athletically gifted by providing expensive facilities and programs designed to promote athletic performance. In contrast, community and church-based programs focus on meeting the recreational and socio-emotional needs of all children, especially the most vulnerable. Let’s end the tyranny of yesterday's “pay-to-play” system and invest in a new system that works for everyone. We believe that Catholic sponsored leagues – the leagues that were the foundation of youth sports for decades before tourism bureaus and for-profit organizations got involved – can step up their efforts and offer a level of play that’s competitive, but also sane enough for families to exercise temperance and balance participation with a quality family life. An effective, fair, and high-quality re-made youth sport system should be:

Child-centered
Affordable
Focused on bringing Christ into practice and competition
An opportunity to teach character through athletic participation
A moderate time-commitment that allows families a healthy balance
Inclusive of all children (rather than exclusive of any)

This is our chance to do better for our children. As Catholic-sponsored sports programs, we should be prepared to welcome participants who are looking for local, high quality programs at little to no cost that emphasize the values of respect and care for all. Our faith compels us to seek out the children most in need of attention and support. Play Like a Champion is here to support leagues in this endeavor.

As Christians, we are a people of hope. Pope Francis reminds us, “This is Christian hope: that the future is in God’s hands.” These coming weeks are a time to balance optimism with reality. We need to be patient while taking a measured approach, moving toward a new future in which all our country’s children can once again engage in positive athletic experiences.

Scripture of the Week:

" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Support for Parents During COVID-19

Play Like a Champion has created a workshop dedicated to helping parents during COVID-19. Featuring tips for handling stress, getting kids moving and practicing mindfulness, this unique workshop is available to view online or use to host a virtual Parent Workshop in your local community. Those interested can email Play Like a Champion to request the slides or to request to join a small group of parents for support and friendship.

Parent Like a Champion Today: Support & Resources for Families During COVID-19

Additional Resources for Parents During COVID-19

Prayer for Healing and Hope

Pope Francis wrote two prayers for an end of the COVID-19 pandemic. He encourages us to prayer the rosary and conclude with these specific prayers.

SECOND PRAYER

"We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God."

In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our mother, and seek refuge under your protection.

Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes toward us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.

Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.

Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.

Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.

Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

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