A recently-released study of high school athletes in partnership with the WIAA and University of Wisconsin researchers revealed 1-in-3 prep athletes showed symptoms of depression.
Dave Steavpack, Activities Director at Manitowoc Lincoln and a member of the WIAA Board of Control said the bottom line during the COVID-19 pandemic, the “mental health of our kids is priority-1.”
“We talked about it within our coaching staff to make those personal connections to kids, it’s not just opening the doors and getting them into the gym and shooting basket or spiking a volleyball, this is about the opportunity to make personal connections with adults and kids. Getting back to that normal activity, letting kids know that they can laugh, they can have a fun time, they can socialize with each other but also with their coaching staff.”
Steavpack explains “trying to get back to normal is what they’re attempting to do.” He said, “With that we have to take into account the safety protocols that are in place about the distancing and wearing masks and washing your hands and just making sure that those protocols are adhered to. Then we are able to hopefully, move forward into getting back into that normal routine.”
The Manitowoc Public School District athletic leader added, “The hope is they are going to have a fall season…get the kids in uniform representing Manitowoc and the school district and feel good about themselves.” Steavpack says “Just getting out and exercising should make the young people feel so much better.” He continued, “That’s where the mental health aspect comes into play.”
