How is lack of sports affecting youth?

While technology has afforded coaches the ability to send workouts and drills to their student-athletes online and via apps, the impact of the lack of face-to-face interaction and competition hasn’t been measured.

With schools shuttered at least until the end of the school year by Gov. Tony Evers’ Safer at Home order due to the coronavirus pandemic, sports have been canceled as well, including youth leagues and club teams that operate outside of school.

The University of Wisconsin is researching how school closures across the state are affecting the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes.

About 2,500 student-athletes aged 13 to 19 who have participated in school sports in the last year are the subjects of the study.

Dr. Tim McGuine at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation is conducting the study.

It is gathering information through an online survey. Students younger than 18 must receive permission from their parents to participate.

To participate in the study, visit uwmadison.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cVft70JKnEBOIMl.

The survey is expected to take less than 10 minutes. Information is confidential.

McGuine holds a bachelor’s degree from UW-La Crosse and a master’s and a doctorate from UW-Madison. He spent 30 years treating high school athletes and has published more than 80 articles on injuries.