31st May 2021
Just how has the pandemic been affecting the people at sports clubs mentally?
By Adam Holt
Here we gain an insight into how the pandemic has affected people at sports clubs across the country.
According to Sport England, being physically active can improve mood, decrease the chance of depression and anxiety and lead to a better and more balanced lifestyle. The sense of belonging and camaraderie is a massive thing, and very important for those who participate and volunteer in local sport – which of course includes sport at a grassroots level, locally and nationally.
Craig Williams, head coach for Aston Edwardians Rugby Club told me how him and the volunteers have been affected by the club being closed during the pandemic, he said: “Rugby is a truly immersive sport and is a significant part of anyone’s life that it touches, volunteering or socialising within the facility or with your friends elsewhere. Our facilities mean that all these activities are contained in one area which makes it a hub for our playing community.”
Williams has also said that he and the club itself have been trying to help its community over the course of the pandemic by taking on the challenge of maintaining engagement, checking welfare and communicating succinctly.
Mental health has been an extremely prevalent topic of discussion in all sections of society and the world of sport has certainly not escaped this. This issue has not only affected grassroots rugby, it has also had an impact on grassroots football. Taylor Allen, a player for Forest Green Rovers explained to me how his season out on loan was disrupted by the pandemic, he said: “On a personal level, last year the season got cancelled and it stopped us playing for three to four months. At Forest Green it’s not been a problem really, however my loan spell at Leamington being cut short has affected my game time."
Craig Williams, head coach for Aston Edwardians Rugby Club told me how him and the volunteers have been affected by the club being closed during the pandemic, he said: “Rugby is a truly immersive sport and is a significant part of anyone’s life that it touches, volunteering or socialising within the facility or with your friends elsewhere. Our facilities mean that all these activities are contained in one area which makes it a hub for our playing community.”
Williams has also said that he and the club itself have been trying to help its community over the course of the pandemic by taking on the challenge of maintaining engagement, checking welfare and communicating succinctly.
Mental health has been an extremely prevalent topic of discussion in all sections of society and the world of sport has certainly not escaped this. This issue has not only affected grassroots rugby, it has also had an impact on grassroots football. Taylor Allen, a player for Forest Green Rovers explained to me how his season out on loan was disrupted by the pandemic, he said: “On a personal level, last year the season got cancelled and it stopped us playing for three to four months. At Forest Green it’s not been a problem really, however my loan spell at Leamington being cut short has affected my game time."
I have also spoken to local journalist Steve Hermon, who has told me how he has been personally affected by the pandemic, and how just the experience of attending a football match, whether it be at professional or grassroots level can provide a mental boost – to expand on this point, he said: “It was genuinely a real mental boost to be able to go to a game when the non-league pyramid was allowed to host a limited number of fans up until the second lockdown.”
Hermon also explained to me how some teams have been boosted in the times when fans could briefly attend grassroots matches during the pandemic, he said: “You could tell that some teams were getting bigger crowds than they would under normal circumstances. I appreciate that I have been fortunate since then to be able to attend some football matches as a commentator for BBC Local Radio but it's definitely not the same without fans.”
These stories from people directly affected by the pandemic certainly hits home that we not only need to look after grassroots sport in order to ensure its survival, but we also need to look after the people. We have to look out for the volunteers who give up their free time to help their beloved community club because the pandemic will have had a massive impact on their mental health.
Hermon also explained to me how some teams have been boosted in the times when fans could briefly attend grassroots matches during the pandemic, he said: “You could tell that some teams were getting bigger crowds than they would under normal circumstances. I appreciate that I have been fortunate since then to be able to attend some football matches as a commentator for BBC Local Radio but it's definitely not the same without fans.”
These stories from people directly affected by the pandemic certainly hits home that we not only need to look after grassroots sport in order to ensure its survival, but we also need to look after the people. We have to look out for the volunteers who give up their free time to help their beloved community club because the pandemic will have had a massive impact on their mental health.