by Hunter Hine

COVID-19 presents a variety of new challenges, which may threaten the very institution of sports across college campuses nationwide. At the University of Maryland, though, student athletes are adhering to strict restrictions and protocols implemented by the athletics department. 

Earning roughly $109 million in annual revenue from athletics, this university is known for its athletics programs and its student athletes who manage their school work, social lives and responsibilities to their teams. 

To date, Maryland athletics reported 14 new positive cases, according to a statement. In total, the department has conducted 3,826 tests and 109 were positive, resulting in a 2.85 percent positivity rate. 

Still, student athletes are among the most susceptible to catching the virus, especially if engaging in close contact with other players over long periods of time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

On Aug. 11, the Big Ten announced its postponement of the 2020-21 fall season, in accordance with advice given to them through the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Big Ten Sports Medicine Committee. But football will resume Oct. 23, and this university’s season opener will be Oct. 24. 

But to further protect student athletes, the athletic department implemented several COVID-19 protocols in order to prevent outbreaks and have a chance at moving forward with the now postponed athletic season. 

The athletes are eager to comply with the new protocols, especially Justin Brown, a wide receiver for the football team, who has not had the chance to play football for about ten months.

 “If we want to play we have got to essentially stay on our P’s and Q’s, and we can’t be going out or anything like that, or even, like risking it at all. If you risk it and get it, you’re out twenty one days,” Brown, a junior kinesiology major, said. 

Before arriving at the locker rooms, athletes must have their temperatures taken and are required to complete both a COVID-19 symptom and general wellness questionnaire, Maddie McSally, a goalie for the women’s lacrosse team, explained. 

Athletes must also complete weekly COVID-19 tests, which are done at the stadium and are now self administered. Once complete, athletes must then filter through the locker room one small group at a time. 

Some student athletes say that practice has remained more or less normal with a few changes. Face masks or shields are required with a few exceptions, such as lacrosse goalies, who maintain a six foot crease of space.

The football team has made the most use of the face shields, as the gaiters and masks can be difficult to breath through during practice.

“During the summer, it was different,” Brown said.  “Now …  you just got to wear a face shield on a helmet.”

As upperclassmen adjust to the changes to practices, Taylor Whitmer, a forward and midfielder for the women’s soccer team, said some freshmen struggle to assimilate as they navigate an unusual season. 

“You’re having a culture trying to be developed especially for new players like freshmen, and they have no idea what it’s like,” said Whitmer, a junior psychology major. “You kind of lose that social factor of hanging out and talking after practice.” 

Despite a few setbacks, some athletes like McSally, a junior information systems major, feel confident in the Big Ten and UMD’s protocols and consistent testing. 

“We didn’t do the wellness thing before, so I like that they put that in place to check on our soreness, to check on our stress levels, to check on our motivation,” McSally said. “I hope that stays implemented throughout after this because I feel like that’s a really good way to just check in with the athlete like day to day.”

Figuring out sports amid the pandemic has proved to be a learning curve for some athletes, but they look forward to getting back on the field safely. This situation has forced stronger communication between athletes and coaches alike – further uniting them like never before behind a common goal of having a successful and safe season.

Featured photo: The Maryland women’s soccer team practice with face masks on Oct. 1. Photo by Taylor Whitmer.