The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world immensely. Even though school has returned to sort of normal, sports are still highly impacted by the virus. Besides the seemingly empty stands, masked faces and socially distanced seating arrangements, something else that has been altered has been the role of student aids. During the football season last year, student aids were seen walking maskless up and down the sidelines, stretching players, and even helping them when they were cut or needed a wrap. This year, the most that an aid has been able to provide is passing out water and handing over a bandaid. The label “sports aid” has now turned into the label “waterboy.” It is still an experience that I am lucky enough to be able to experience and I still have learned a lot even though I am unable to be completely hands-on. I first started being an aid during the football season which is where I earned the title: “professional waterboy.” There was not a lot of direct medic work that I could do as there were strict COVID guidelines, seeing as we were just able to return to in-person learning. I recently completed the season with the girls’ basketball team, which usually consisted of me sitting anxiously on the bleachers in wait of someone needing me to fill up their water bottle or smuggling candy out of Brandy’s room to sneak to them. It was still an amazing experience, especially being able to be a part of watching the girls earn their second District title. The baseball season is the first season that I will be able to do some actual medic things, like wrapping and stretches. I also get to carry around my own bag which makes me feel pretty cool. Even though I have not been able to experience the medical aspect of being an aid, being a sports aid has been one of my favorite things that I’ve gotten to experience my senior year. Being able to witness some of the players complete their final season, being able to attend their Championship games and developing friendships with them has been an amazing ordeal that I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to experience. Even though I haven’t been able to do all the usual things an aid would do, being a sports medic during COVID is an experience I wouldn’t trade for the world.
By: Shyann Finefrock