Lessons Learned from COVID-19: The Youth Sports World Going Forward.

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic profoundly impacted athletes and organizations of all ages and calibers. As optimism grows and restrictions lift, the mindset of youth sports shifts to prospection. Using the lessons learned during the cancelled, postponed, or modified 2020-2021 season, stakeholders should envision a different playing field moving forward. The void of youth sports highlighted the many values it brings to athletes physically, mentally, and socially. The regionality of sport during the pandemic highlighted resource and funding disparities among communities. Consideration must be given to the overall health of the student-athlete and how to return to competition and spectatorship safely and responsibly. The pandemic required youth sport to collaborate with public health with the hope of creating a semblance of normalcy in upcoming seasons. [Pediatr Ann. 2021;50(11)e470-e473.].