Why grassroots sport must be protected at all costs

By Ben Appleby

The new measures introduced by the UK government have put the sports industry under increasing pressure and threaten the existence of many smaller and grassroots organisations.

The latest developments have seen a postponement in the return of sports fans to stadia, leaving many clubs fearing for their futures with vital matchday income virtually wiped out.

The new measures could last six months and came as more than 100 sports bodies wrote to Prime Minster Boris Johnson to ask for emergency funding.

The letter, which had the support of organisations including the Football Association, Premier League, Rugby Football Union, Lawn Tennis Association, and England and Wales Cricket Board, warned of “a lost generation of activity” because of coronavirus.

It added: "Our sector will be at the forefront of your plans to improve the health and wellbeing of all communities…to solving societal issues…including reducing health inequalities, tackling obesity, cutting crime, easing loneliness, and enhancing social cohesion.”

While the economic effects of the pandemic on the sports industry are clear for all to see, the health and wellbeing of the nation and how future generations may suffer as a result is a fundamental concern.

In July, the UK government unveiled a new obesity strategy to urge people to ‘lose weight, beat Covid-19 and protect the NHS.’

The shocking statistics stated that almost two-thirds (63%) of adults in England are overweight or living with obesity – and one in three children leave primary school overweight or obese, with obesity-related illnesses costing the NHS £6 billion a year.

The NHS website adds that exercise can reduce the risk of major illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and cancer by up to 50% and also lower the risk of early death by up to 30%.

As well as the increased physical health benefits associated with exercise, the impact of physical activity on mental health cannot be underestimated.

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK (FSEM) produced a guide looking at the role physical activity has in treating mental illness for health professionals, sports participants, schools, parents and carers.

The report claimed that ‘strong evidence exists showing a 20-30% reduction in depression in adults who participate in physical activity daily.’

It is no wonder then, that the public were encouraged to keep exercising once a day during the height of lockdown in the face of the continued spread of the virus.

Despite this, research by Rethink Mental Illness highlighted the impact of lockdown measures on the physical health of people living with severe mental illness.

When asked if they had experienced any other impacts other than those to their mental health during the crisis, over half (54%) of respondents to the survey from April and May said they had been exercising less than usual during lockdown.

Reasons for this included gyms and pools being closed, a fear of catching Covid-19, low motivation due to medication or low mood induced by the crisis.

While some people were able to take advantage of the eased restrictions on exercising to improve their physical health and fitness through activities including running and cycling, the absence of competitive sport, both at an elite and grassroots level, began to take its toll on society.

Another measure introduced by the government was an enforced ban on indoor sports requiring more than six people, with Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden tweeting that ‘due to the rapid spread due to social contact, I’m afraid we can no longer permit exemptions for indoor grassroots sport’.

The latest restrictions are a big concern for sports such as basketball and netball which are predominantly played indoors as the winter months draw in, not to mention the usually thriving five-a-side football leagues.

The United Nations commented on the difficulties faced through the lack of sport in their report looking at the impact of Covid-19.

It stated: “Sport has long been considered a valuable tool for fostering communication and building bridges between communities and generations. Through sport, various social groups are able to play a more central role towards social transformation and development, particularly in divided societies.”

Several sports federations, national governing bodies, organisations and clubs must be praised for their tireless work in ensuring that the summer of sport was not completely wiped out.

In Britain, alongside the completion of football’s Premier League, FA Cup and EFL playoffs, other sports showcased their creativity and innovation to introduce new formats and competitions, including the Rose Ladies Series golf tour, the Battle of the Brits tennis tournament, and county cricket’s Bob Willis Trophy.

According to Happify, the provider of science-based activities and games, sports fans tend to have lower rates of depression, less stress, and higher self-esteem than non-sports fans.

Similarly, a 2013 report by sportanddev.org suggested that ‘sport can play a role in improving a society's overall sense of wellbeing.’

The return of sport has also played a key role in highlighting societal issues with the Black Lives Matter movement in particular helping to enforce actionable change thanks to the support of high-profile athletes around the world.

Recently, Naomi Osaka and Lewis Hamilton have been at the forefront of the campaign to fight inequality and injustice by using their platform to spark change and both have vowed to carry on fighting for social justice.

Osaka, who wore masks with the name of a different African American victim of police shootings or racial violence during her run to the US Open title, said that it was her critics that drove her to victory.

“All the people that were telling me to ‘keep politics out of sports’ really inspired me to win. You better believe I’m gonna try to be on your TV for as long as possible,” she tweeted.

Hamilton wore a t-shirt at the Tuscan Grand Prix that read ‘Arrest the cops who killed Breonna Taylor’ and took to Instagram to urge people to come together and help make the world a better place for future generations.

He posted: “Want you to know that I won’t stop, I won’t let up, I won’t give up on using this platform to shed light on what I believe is right…this is a journey for all of us to come together and challenge the world on every level of injustice, not only racial.”

An increasing number of global sports stars seem to be recognising that they have an opportunity to engage with their fans and create real change, and it was heartening that Formula 1’s governing body (FIA) ruled out an investigation into the t-shirt worn by Hamilton.

It is a step-change from the past when organisations such as the IOC and FIFA prohibited any cause-related slogans or messaging by athletes, with some laws remaining in place today.

Athletes have felt encouraged to speak openly on societal issues, with fans now demanding that their roles models take a stance and use their platforms for good.

There is still a long way to go until sport returns to normal, with athletes competing in front of packed out stadia and the collective sense of community among fans that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

But for now, we must hope that sports organisations get the support they need to survive and provide the many valuable services they offer local communities.