We are pretty much in this all together, all on the same team. During these times of restrictions that Covid-19 has presented us we are grappling with how we can keep our love for sport burning. It hasn’t been easy. There is pretty much no live sport on TV, we can’t play it as we normally do and staying in contact with teammates is limited to online catch ups and phone calls. Saying all that, humans are really good at finding silver linings, finding a way.
Online Connections
For someone that avoided the online social world as much as was humanly possible before Covid-19, I decided to embrace it. At first, hesitantly but after weeks of social isolation I’ve tried many forms. Video calls with teammates on Messenger, WhatsApp and even Houseparty. Facebook challenges, like name your top ten sports people of all time and, even last week, I put out a skills challenge to three of my comrades from my soccer team through social media. And you know what? It’s been lots of fun and most importantly kept my passion for sport alive during a time that it could’ve fizzled to nothing.
Online Courses
Another way to get your sports fix is to do something you have probably been putting off due to being too busy. Have a think about your sport/s of choice and look into what courses can be done online. I’ve just completed the Laws of the Game online referee course, with my thirteen year old son, which I’ve been meaning to do for some time.
As a coach I’ve just completed the Special Olympics Australia An Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder course which will make me a much better coach when we get back. Special Olympics Australia is part of a global sporting community for people with an intellectual disability and their online portal provides more free coach education options.
Sports Medicine Australia has just made 50% of their Sports Trainer Level 1 course available to be done online. If restrictions continue, this could be another course I’ll look to do which will make me a much more valuable volunteer once sport returns.
There is certainly plenty to keep the flame ignited so once we get back sport won’t feel so distant and strange. My advice is, find what is a good balance between online engagement and getting out for some exercise, pick some things you can do that will keep your passion for sport burning. It could be a time we look back on and remember how useful this time was for community sport.
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