Mental Health Aspect-Opinion Peace.

Written Wednesday November 18th at 9:10 PM

What I’ve been hearing with coronavirus cases rising in the State. The State decided that a three week pause could help things however something else is brewing underneath everything that the media, state officials, or medical experts should look at.

The mental health and emotional component.

The mental health of student athletes is seriously at risk and that is a serious problem.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services medical executive Joneigh Khaldun, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer put a pause in school sports among other things for three weeks on Sunday night.

I thought about what more mental anguish and sadness that these student athletes have to suffer thanks to these three.

Gordon said in the press conference that the reason why school sports were paused was because of contact risks. “We are suspending organized sports for three weeks because they bring together people in setting that often involve high levels of contact and exhalation and where individuals move from outdoors to indoors.”

I’m not buying what Gordon is saying at all. All schools do temperature checks and have “clear to go apps” even before they enter the building. Schools have done a great job keeping students and staff safe, I've seen it. This was all done behind MHSAA executive director Mark Uyl’s back. He wasn’t even consulted when the new restrictions came out. 

Most health experts say that school sports can create "super-spreader events" because of the mixing but there is evidence out there that that is not the case. According to the MHSAA there was no evidence that the virus was spread at their events. Also there was no evidence that the virus spread through AAU events or any community wide outbreaks in those settings. Now there have been student athletes that have gone into quarantine don't get me wrong because they were exposed or came close to someone who was exposed but there hasn't been really any evidence of a community wide outbreak surrounding school sports.

It makes you think that Gordon was behind all of this all along.

In Ohio with their winter sports, they are going with everything as planned.

Whitmer forced the MHSAA's hand in the spring as she shut spring sports down through executive orders which caused mental anguish for kids.

The MHSAA Executive Council and Uyl put together a plan that once the order was lifted they would resume all practices starting December 9^th. Volleyball would have quarterfinals play on December 15^th and would have the semifinals and finals on December 17^th thru 19^th at the Kellogg Center in Battle Creek. Girls Swimming and Diving would be conducted on December 22^nd and 23^rd with three high schools hosting one meet. Football regionals would be played December 15^th and 16^th followed by the State semifinals on December 21^st and 22^nd and the State Finals at Ford Field on December 28^th and 29^th.

Girls Basketball has already been in practice while the rest of winter sports haven’t started tryouts yet.

All of this could change if coronavirus case numbers don’t go down which would make this decision by Whitmer, Gordon, and Khaldun that much more heartbreaking and if they were to extend the epidemic order past December 8th.

I read an article about high school sports and mental health and it was a very interesting read. Mental health is not a one size fits all approach. As I read this article in the Indianapolis Star, there was a study out that said that 65 percent reported symptoms of depression and 36 percent showed that student athletes having moderate or severe anxiety.

Indiana assistant director for school mental health Kristy Eaton said in the article that "We need to be aware that depression and anxiety and feelings of isolation our kids and student-athletes are very much at risk right now. Research tells us that about one out of every five kids sitting in a classroom has a diagnosed or a diagonosable mental health condition. Add the stressors of the unknowns about COVID and you have a recipe for kids that may really start struggling with their own mental health."

Mental health is not a one size fits all approach. Some kids respond to it differently than others but it can be very dangerous if something is taken away. "It can manifest in moodiness and irritability or an angry outburst often underlying that is fear. I don't know what is going to happen next with this COVID thing. Sleep and hygiene issues can crop up. Same thing with eating issues, overeating-refusing to eat. You might see substance abuse. You might see or hear talk of suicide. Those are some of the warning signs that kids have gotten into a situation where it's likely that they're going to need some professional help" Eaton concluded.

Playing school sports helps the mental mind and has given student athletes a sense of normalcy but if sports were taken away it could lead to more bad than good. Playing sports also helps develop time management skills and team bonding.

I noticed that in Uyl and the MHSAA Executive Council. They looked at the mental health aspect of student athletes which is why they went ahead and kept things as normal as possible in August with no changes along with mask wearing and social distancing. Most student athletes are doing the right thing. I have a lot more questions for Whitmer, Gordon, and Khaldun. If they (Whitmer, Gordon, or Khaldun) want on my podcast, I’ll let them on or if they want to have a conversation, I have an email if they want to explain why school sports were paused and the mental health aspects that student athletes face, I'm at samsdragons@yahoo.com

It is no doubt that student athletes belong in a school setting building relationships and bonds. Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit boys basketball coach Pat Donnelly wrote on Twitter a very interesting tweet that I really hope Gordon, Khaldun, and Whitmer read. “OPEN, Gyms for individual exercise. CLOSED, Organized sports, and fitness centers so why is it that we can’t host individual workouts for HS (high school) athletes??? Physical health, mental health, future opportunities (college.) And yes they can wear a mask and be socially distant.” 

That’s a very good question. The MHSAA and State put the mask and social distancing guidelines in the fall. Schools and student-athletes have followed them to the bone to keep their seasons intact.

Maybe Whitmer, Gordon, and Khaldun didn’t think it through before deciding to shut sports down for three weeks or maybe they don’t care about the student athlete or their mental and emotional well being.

Maybe it’s time for Whitmer, Gordon, and Khaldun to explain the emotional and mental aspect that this is taking its toll on our student athletes. I would like to see more of that in the future. 

 

The Indy Star article.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/09/01/how-covid-can-affect-high-school-athletes-mental-health-and-how-they-can-get-help/3405045001/

 MHSAA Restart article.

https://www.mhsaa.com/News/Press-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/9444/MHSAA-Representative-Council-Announces-Schedule-to-Complete-Fall-Sports-Resume-Winter 

Michigan Pauses High School Sports For Three Weeks.

Written Sunday November 15th at 8:30 PM

The MHSAA has paused all fall and winter sports in compliance to Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health of Human Services epidemic orders for three weeks on Sunday night.

Whitmer stated the reason why is the increase in coronavirus cases throughout the State. She included closing movie theaters, casinos, indoor dining in bars and restaurants. Whitmer also suspended in person learning as well for High Schools.

The MHSAA made a statement regarding the pause after Whitmer's press conference. “We understand the need for action and we will explore all options to complete our fall tournaments when restrictions are lifted. We will assess everything over the next three weeks relative to fall and winter sports and come up with a plan that keeps up connected to our goal, for months of having three seasons that are played to their conclusions” said MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl.

Football had three weeks left in their season while Volleyball and Girls Swimming and Diving were onto their final week of the season. Winter sports were about to start up soon with Girls Basketball starting last week.

MHHS director Robert Gordon made an interesting statement why High School sports were impacted in the new order because of contact risks. “We are suspending organized sports for three weeks because they bring together people in setting that often involve high levels of contact and exhalation and where individuals move from outdoors to indoors like locker rooms.”

It will be very interesting to see what happens in three weeks.

Thoughts

I was very disappointed on Sunday night and was heartbroken for all the student athletes even though their seasons are not cancelled, just postponed. There will be a lot to work out though when restrictions are lifted.

I’m really bothered with Whitmer, Gordon, and Joneigh Khaldun. I feel they ignored the mental and emotional component to sports and put these restrictions on student athletes. If they read this I want them to do some sole searching.

Bottom line I feel like we are living March 13^th all over again.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, just got to get there together.

Week Nine Recap.

Written Saturday November 14th at 3:15 PM

Week Nine Scores

Romeo 45, STONEY CREEK 27.

WEST BLOOMFIELD 63, Sterling Heights Stevenson 6.

OAK PARK 27, Wyandotte 14.

Warren Mott 1, GROVES 0 (Forfeit)

NORTH FARMINGTON 1, South Lyon 0 (Forfeit)

 

I was very disappointed with Stoney Creek in the first half on Friday night with Romeo. The Cougars started the game strong with a 70 yard touchdown run from Cameron Buford but after that it was all Bulldogs thanks to Brian St. Clair. St. Clair has two rushing touchdowns one from 10 yards out and the other on a fake statue of liberty where he went 37 yards out for the score. Romeo led 17-7 at the half and have forced three Stoney Creek turnovers and four sacks. They have shut down Buford after the first drive. The Cougars would turn the football over after a bad snap in their first series of the second half which gave the Bulldogs another opportunity to score and make it 24-7 Romeo. Stoney Creek threw an interception which was their fifth turnover. It would lead to a Bulldogs touchdown to make the score 31-7 Romeo. The Cougars would answer with a huge touchdown from Ryan Eckhout to Aaron Dargel from 38 yards out but the two point conversion failed to make it 31-13 Romeo however the Bulldogs defense again made an impact by getting a fumble recovery for a touchdown which was their sixth turnover of the game to make it 38-13 Romeo. The Bulldogs would then get another fumble recovery and take it back for a touchdown for their seventh turnover of the game to make it 45-13 Romeo. Burford added another touchdown for Stoney Creek from 20 yards out to make it 45-19 Bulldogs. The Cougars would add another touchdown and a two point conversion to make the score 45-27 which ended up being the final score. Stoney Creek had a very good season but you can’t turn the football over seven times, give up 35 points off them, and expect to win that’s the bottom line.

Oak Park used a great first half at Wyandotte taking a 21-0 halftime to win 27-14 on Friday night over the Bears. The Knights started the scoring as Davion Primm rushed from four yards out to make it 7-0. Oak Park would strike again as James Burnley threw a 28 yard touchdown pass to Amari Harris to make it 14-0. The Knights would recover a fumble on the kickoff which led to Burnley throwing to Kyshawn Jackson to make it 21-0. Oak Park has forced three turnovers in the first half which gave them that edge early. Wyandotte would answer with a 19 yard touchdown pass from Jalen Pitchford to make it 21-7 Knights. The Bears would stop Oak Park and then they got another score from 12 yards out by running back Carmari Garrison to make it 21-14 Knights. The Oak Park defense would then hold off the Bears high scoring offense and then Burnley took over with his legs. He scored a four yard rushing touchdown but missed the extra point to make it 27-14 Knights. Oak Park which would be the final score sending them to 3-6 on the season. Burnley was the difference maker for the Knights in that game. Oak Park will now head to Livonia to play Livonia Churchill next week.

West Bloomfield was just dominant on all three phases on Saturday afternoon at Runkel Field beating Sterling Heights Stevenson 63-6. The Lakers took advantage of three kickoff recoveries from the Titans which led to scores and eventually a 56-6 halftime lead. The West Bloomfield offensive line was the story as they were clearly the more dominant squad in the trenches against a good Sterling Heights Stevenson defense that played in the tough Macomb Area Conference Red. Donovan Edwards had six touchdowns in the first half (five rushing and one receiving.) Alex Short had two touchdown passes, one from 60 yards to Maxwell Hairston and the other to Edwards. The Lakers were just the better team in this game bottom line. West Bloomfield will host Romeo in the Swamp next week.