I want to preface this by saying I’m not an employee of the CDC, nor am I a professional sports writer. I do, however, have thoughts about sports during COVID, especially with East sports up and running. Below, is the official Eloise Rich ranking of safe sports to play during a pandemic
1. Golf
Golf is the perfect sport for COVID. Generally, you remain well over six feet apart from other players. Perhaps the greatest upside is that it can be played solo. However, it can be relatively pricey, and travelling in the golf cart between each swing provides a risk.
2. Fencing
While fencing isn’t the most common sport, it certainly has some of the most benefits in a COVID environment. In fencing, the two competitors are forced to stay apart, with only minimal periods of contact when quick jabs are made. Fencers are also very accustomed to wearing lots of gear, making the addition of a face mask no trouble.
3. Tennis
In tennis, the only contact between you and other players is in the form of a ball. Courts are spaced nicely, making the only risk close contact with team members. Tennis can be played singles or doubles, safely.
4. Swimming
As far as current scientific research is concerned, COVID-19 cannot be transmitted through water, making swimming a perfect sport. The major downside to swimming, especially competitively, though, is that it’s generally a larger team, and during colder months must be done inside (although the facilities are pretty large). Additionally, when not in the water there is a lot of standing around and waiting.
5. Cross country/track and field
Running, for the most part, is done outdoors, making it perfect for COVID. As long as physical contact is avoided, the risk is minimal, especially in an area like Chapel Hill where case numbers are relatively low. There is concern with cross country and track races that start in such large packs, but distance is otherwise maintained. However, the CDC does not recommend wearing a mask while running, increasing the risk of it.
6. Baseball and softball
Baseball and softball fall under the same idea as tennis, the only difference being that the team is larger. Baseball and softball both also involve the physical touching of the ball, which is a mild risk. Players are spaced out very far on the field.
7. Soccer
With a large field and a lack of hands-on contact, it would seem as though soccer is COVID-safe, but that isn’t entirely the case. Teams are larger and with the aerobic activity involved, it may not be entirely safe to wear a mask; plus, masks often slip with all of the movement. There’s also no guarantee that there will be no physical contact in the sport.
8. Basketball
Basketball isn’t the safest sport to be playing. There’s no way to limit contact, though the contact is far less intense than a sport like football. The same happens here as it does with soccer, in that masks often slip. Basketball, as a recreational sport, isn’t super safe, but getting out with a few friends is the best way to still play.
9. Football
Despite the fact that football players wear large amounts of equipment and play on a large field, there’s no way to limit contact between players and teams.
10. Wrestling
Needless to say, wrestling is the most unsafe sport to do during COVID.
Featured photo courtesy of Phil Roeder/Flickr
