The Corona pandemic has hit the world hard. We are all affected by the circumstances, be it because a loved one has contracted the virus, or because we have to spend weeks on end without being able to socialize in person. A year ago, on the 27th of February the first case of Corona was registered in Germany, and back then nobody thought this is where we would be a year on…
But these lockdowns that we are experiencing are deemed necessary to protect our society from even more cases and deaths. So how are people dealing? How are athletes dealing?
I have noticed, both in myself and in many others that the start of 2021 is the time where it is most difficult so far to be cooped up at home and not be able to go out to a restaurant, go on holiday, or simply see a group of friends or family. The new year started with fresh hopes and a wish that 2021 would be a better year in terms of Covid-19 than the last. But so far it has not delivered. And this is why it is becoming difficult for people. Being hopeful but then coming to the realization that we are not there yet.
How does this affect athletes?
Most athletes are currently not able to train as they normally would. In team sports they are forced to go running on their own and have the occasional online strength and conditioning session on Zoom. This is the best alternative given the circumstances, it is not a very satisfying alternative though. Motivation starts becoming a much bigger issue, you do not just have to show up to team practice where you will be punished if you do not show up, you have to motivate yourself to train on your own, with no real punishment if you do not do it. The best that coaches can do is ask athletes to send in pictures of tracked runs, which is no foolproof way of getting the athletes to complete their training program either. Motivation starts to become a very big topic for athletes who normally do not have to motivate themselves much. Furthermore, there is a big social aspect / social need that is not fulfilled. High level athletes train 6 days a week, and also see their teammates nearly every day. They spend time before and after practice in the changing room socializing, in general seeing their teammates and coaches more than some family members during a normal non-lockdown week. And in this regard, zoom trainings are no substitute unfortunately.
For a lucky few, training can still go on and they do not have to go running on their own, but can train in a team, despite the lockdown. By no means does this result in normality though. Through often very strict social distancing rules the social interactions before and after training are very limited, and there are no games that you are training for. Training is happening for the sake of training, to get better, but not to compete.
Many say, “you should really count yourself lucky that you are allowed to be on the pitch/court/etc.”. And while this holds to be very true, it is still not the same and here again, motivation starts to play a much bigger role than it usually does. All of a sudden, training sessions seem slower, quieter and less competitive than they would during a normal season. And of course, this is completely normal and relatable, but it is still a shame. Unless athletes are competing in what is deemed a professional league, these are the best possible circumstances at the moment, and they are still heavily affected by Covid.
This seems to paint a very gray picture of current situations and probably makes anyone reading feel just a tad more depressed about the pandemic.
So, what to do?
There are a lot of coaches out there who are doing a fantastic job of keeping their athletes motivated and engaged. It is a chance to work on individual skills with athletes that you would normally not have the time to work on. It is a chance to be creative and try out new methods. It is a test of creativity and motivation, but it is also a chance for creativity and motivation. The harder the test, the higher the reward when succeeding.
It is important to acknowledge the difficulties and not just always compare yourself to that person who has it worse. Do not try to obsessively convince yourself that you are lucky and are not allowed to feel discouraged, because that discourage is there anyway… See it as a chance to prove yourself and to develop. You did not choose to climb this mountain; it was put in your way without your consent. And I know can be difficult at times. But in the end this is exactly why we compete in sports, we train and improve and ultimately succeed. Just this time you are not trying to score more goals, baskets or runs than the opponent, you are competing against the person who you were when the pandemic started, this lockdown started or the person you were at the beginning of the week. Be self-aware about how you are doing, acknowledge it, work with it, and prove to yourself that you are bigger and better than what Covid-19 throws at you!
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