The Return to Sports: The Impact of COVID-19 on Our Student Athletes

Written by Liam T. Buchanan

Instagram: @buchananliam

Twitter: @_buchananliam

Thumbnail and Header Photo by Tourism Nova Scotia

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all SMUdents in multiple ways. At the forefront of COVID’s impact on university students is how we progressed through our degrees. The most recent academic year saw all Huskies move remotely to Zoom lectures and online learning. All students had to adapt to the ever-changing landscape that the pandemic brought upon us, including student-athletes, who represent both the varsity level sports as well as club sports. As classes transitioned to a remote format, students repping the Huskies uniform were sidelined and could not play the sport(s) they love. Luckily, this was only temporary, as varsity and club sports at the university level are poised to return this month. Because university sports will look drastically different than they did pre-pandemic, I decided to cover exactly how the return to sports at SMU will occur, and the roadblocks athletes and other staff have endured along the way. 

Photo by SMU Huskies. Headshot of Daniel Velocci.

I was able to speak with Daniel Velocci, a Defensive Lineman for the men’s varsity football team entering his junior season; Brianna Clowater, a fourth-year flank and second row forward for the women’s varsity rugby team; and Scott Gray, Director of Athletics and Recreation at SMU. The three of them illustrated the degree to which the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the off-season and what it means moving forward for the 2021-2022 season.

The current Atlantic University Sport (AUS) football teams are Saint Mary’s, Saint Francis Xavier (StFX), Acadia, Mount Allison, and Bishop’s University. Regarding travel restrictions, Daniel tells me that it is up to Québec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia to decide how the teams will compete. As of the publishing date of this article, the Huskies can compete against all AUS teams. Moreover, mandatory rapid testing is not a requirement to compete; rather, other policies are in place to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, such as the usage of masks when entering facilities and in close contact with others, and bubbling teammates together, both in Halifax and while traveling, to reduce the chance of transmission. Saint Mary’s also announced via email on August 20th 2021 that “individuals in the designated groups: varsity athletes, students in club sports, coaches, staff in the Department of Athletics and Recreation, and individuals living in residence must be fully vaccinated by October 15.” 

Velocci also voiced his frustrations on the pandemic’s impact on athletes. He said with “the many shutdowns that happened, we could never predict when one was coming. We learned to adapt to what we have.” Anyone who has competed at a high level of competition, whether it is athletic or otherwise, knows that routine is everything.

Photo by SMU Huskies. Headshot of Brianna Clowater. 

The Huskies women’s rugby team competes against Acadia, StFX, and the University of Prince Edward Island in the AUS. Brianna Clowater, a veteran of the rugby squadron, said that preparing for the upcoming season has been like no other. She reiterated Daniel’s frustrations – that the lockdowns interrupted off-season training and players returning to campus, as some were barred from entering Nova Scotia; however, Clowater says that “[the] coaching staff as well as our strength and conditioning staff really put in a lot of effort and planning to ensure that as athletes, we were still able to get our training needs met in preparation for the pending season.” 

The rugby team also follows rigorous COVID-19 protocols to ensure the health and safety of all team personnel are being met: this includes bubbling teammates together, disinfecting equipment, and distancing teammates when applicable to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. While there are four AUS women’s varsity rugby teams, whoever is crowned champion goes off to compete against other Canadian universities in a quest to become the U Sports champion, thus earning the privilege of being Canada’s best team. As of right now, it is anticipated that the season will proceed accordingly but ultimately U Sports – AUS’ governing body – must adhere to provincial travel regulations for this to occur. The Huskies are eager to run back onto the pitch, and we at The Journal are just as eager to watch them succeed this season!

Photo by SMU. Scott Gray, Director of Athletics and Recreation, standing near the football field at Huskies Stadium in 2017.

I also had the pleasure to speak with Scott Gray, the Director of Athletics and Recreation at Saint Mary’s. He reiterated the new school policy that all athletes and staff working for the Department of Athletics and Recreation – including himself – must be vaccinated by October 15th . Gray also said that the biggest logistical challenge to the upcoming year is the constant changes in regulations and lockdowns. Huskies should also take note that Gray stated that it is still up in the air whether fans can attend sporting games because it depends on provincial gathering limits. He concluded our virtual conversation by encouraging all athletes to be leaders in the fight against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated as soon as possible and encouraging other teammates and students to do so as well.

Daniel Velocci, Brianna Clowater, and Scott Gray, despite possibly never meeting, all agree upon one fact: that the most straining challenge to sport and being involved in it is the lack of consistency. As stated previously, routine is paramount to being an athlete. COVID-19 found the Achillies heel of sport and that was the disruption of routine. Despite said challenges, Huskies will rise against the virus. I personally am very eager for the return to sports at the university level. Sporting events allow us students to come together in stressful times – whether it be stress from our course loads or personal constraints – and bond together as a family. Huskies have sadly lacked that familial and communal aspect since COVID struck Canada, and it is questionable whether it will return for the time being. It is up to AUS, club sports officials, and intramural officials to follow public health mandates regarding the global pandemic to ensure those athletes and attendees feel safe to play and spectate the sports that Saint Mary’s offers. It is understandable that some are hesitant to return to what was considered normal before spring 2019; therefore, we need said regulations not just for the safety of players and spectators but also for those that feel hesitant to the adjustment of regulations to accommodate for sporting events.