Photo courtesy of Medicine Hat Softball Association

By Scott Roblin

Minor Sports

Survey results released on pandemic’s impact on local athletes

Aug 21, 2020 | 5:57 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Parents of young athletes in the Medicine Hat area seem more than open to the idea of putting their kids back on the ice, court, or diamond in the coming months.

The Medicine Hat Sport & Event Council has been undertaking a survey over the last few weeks to determine the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on young athletes in the Medicine Hat area.

MHSEC received close to 225 responses to the survey and included young athletes between the ages of four years old and those who are 18 years of age and older.

“We know that sports are crucial to kids health and family health even,” said MHSEC manager Kara Brake. “So, we’re hoping that with the restrictions being lifted and with what sports are trying to and trying to get kids back to sports, we’ll see activity levels improve.”

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

5h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

One of the most interesting nuggets from the survey came in the form of how much of an appetite there is from parents and kids to return to play amid the pandemic.

A whopping 76 percent of respondents said they either agreed or strongly agreed that they have no concerns resuming sports once current restrictions are lifted.

When it comes to worries from the children themselves of getting sick once restrictions are lifted, 67 percent of respondents either disagreed or strongly disagreed with that notion.

Brake said there is an appetite to return to play locally, however many sports in the Medicine Hat area are governed by provincial and national bodies.

“Even though we might have low cases in Medicine Hat, it doesn’t necessarily mean the national organization can focus just on Medicine Hat,” said Brake. “So, we are trying everything we can do. The Sport & Event Council is working with our organizations to help them where we can to find ways that they can alter their sports and get kids back to playing these sports and doing events.”

Mental health was also a topic that emerged through the survey, with the majority of parents seeing a worsening in many aspects of their children’s lives since the pandemic hit including sleeping habit, diet, mood, motivation, and social interaction.

While she said it needs to be done safely, Brake is confident that a return to play will help stop some of those cycles local athletes find themselves in.

“We’ve had parents reach out as well and just said, ‘I’ve noticed that my kid’s not as happy as they used to be, or they’re really missing their friends and they’re lonely, and stuff like that,’” said Brake. “So, sport isn’t just about getting kids active, it does absolutely play a mental health part.”

The next step for Brake and her team will be submitting their findings first to the provincial level, before possibly taking it to their national counterparts as well.

“We’ve got sport councils across Alberta that are also doing it,” said Brake. “So, once we have all of their results combined, we put one together and say this is Alberta as a whole and that goes to the provincial government. I’m not sure if Sport for Life, the national organization, is doing one as well. But, if they do it’ll go to the federal government to show the importance of sport.”

Most families surveyed had children in hockey, swimming, baseball, and basketball.