Sports Amidst Covid – 19: The Effects on the Mental Health among Student - Athletes and Coaches

The author is Teacher III at City of San Fernando West Integrated School Elino I. Mendoza III

COVID-19 has now invaded almost every nation in the world. Many aspects of life, including sport and physical activity, have been disrupted because of social and physical distancing measures, corporate and school lockdowns, and overall social life, which have become typical in the battle against the disease. Major athletic events have been canceled or postponed at the world, regional, and national levels to guarantee the safety of athletes and others involved in the sport. COVID-19 also compelled gymnasium, stadiums, swimming pools, dance and fitness studios, clinics, parks, and playgrounds around the world to close. As a result, a lot of people are unable to engage in their usual solo or group sporting or physical activities outside of their homes. As a result of these factors, many people become less physically active, spend more time in front of screens, have irregular sleep patterns, and eat inferior diets, resulting in weight gain and loss of physical fitness. Individuals' mental health is also compromised by a lack of access to exercise and physical activity, which can exacerbate tension or anxiety that many will experience as a result of being cut off from normal social life. According to the World Health Organization, 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorousintensity exercise should be done each week. Regular exercise has been shown to be beneficial, especially during times of anxiety, crisis, and panic. There are concerns that, in the aftermath of a pandemic, a lack of access to regular sporting or exercise routines could endanger the immune system and physical health, leading to the beginning or exacerbation of disorders linked to a sedentary lifestyle. If this global pandemic COVID 19 has had and will continue, which is still wreaking havoc on the sports world will have a significant impact on individual’s well-being as well as the physical and mental health of people all over the world.