How have sports changed during the pandemic?

From an Anonymous Women's Synchronized Swimmer:

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When I arrived on campus for my first fall preseason, my outlook for my freshmen fall was optimistic. The prospect of a NCAA or Big Ten season looked bright, and the mood amongst my fellow student-athletes was nothing short of exuberant—a chance to step on the field after months of sheltering in place was seemingly upon us. Little did I know that less than two weeks into preseason, everything would change. 

The novelty and awe of preseason had settled in, and just before we moved into the dorms on August 23rd, the Big Ten called off all sports for the season and left countless questions on the minds of myself and my fellow athletes. Are we still going to practice? Is there going to be a season in the spring? How does this affect my NCAA eligibility? Should I stay for the fall and risk my health without a season to risk it for? After the dust settled and details on the new potential “season” were released, I decided to stay on campus, train with the team full-time, and live in the dorms. 

Acknowledging the many obstacles and risks that this decision came with, I jumped at the opportunity to adapt to a new life and truly work on my craft without the pressures of a starting spot on the roster bearing down on me immediately. But, moving into the dorms and secluding myself from my hallmates and fellow freshmen was very hard, much harder than I ever thought it would be. I knew I had my teammates and that they were supposed to be my closest friends on campus, but a part of me wanted to socialize with students who were not athletes and bond with them as well. While I imagined my first fall season and freshman social life going very differently, I was ready to roll with the punches and sacrifice a lot to work hard and get better. 

Along with a new practice schedule came the introduction of online classes which posed a different challenge to my athletic ventures. At the beginning of the term, the difficulty of waking up for classes and resisting the tempting distractions in my room became extremely apparent. Schoolwork kept me in my room until the early afternoon, until I would leave to peruse the dining hall for a healthy, energizing lunch, which was sometimes quite hard to find. It became easy to coast through classes and give in to distractions, all while depriving myself of the proper activity and nutrition prior to practice, and I felt the effects out on the field. My mind and body did not feel prepared, and I struggled to maintain a level of consistency on the pitch, causing my confidence and overall performance to decline. 

It was clear that I needed to change my habits, but I struggled to do so in a safe way because of COVID. I did not feel comfortable signing up to go to the library or studying out in a quad because the risk of contracting the virus would rise. The idea of putting my roommate, my team, and the athletic department in jeopardy was the last thing I wanted to do. So, I accepted that in order to continue to play and to keep myself and my team safe, I needed to bite the bullet and deal with the new requirements of being a student-athlete. I knew that it was never going to be easy with COVID. The challenges I faced pushed my limits and took some things that were staples in my life away, but the benefits outweighed the negatives. I ended up finding a good balance and better routine that has allowed me to thrive in the classroom and on the field. Taking full advantage of the opportunity to play with the Michigan men’s soccer team was extremely difficult, but I am grateful for the challenges it posed, the opportunity to play for my university, and all that the school has done to make this possible for myself and student-athletes like me.