Student-athletes cope with mask rule

Because of the statewide mandate, face masks are supposed to be worn when out in public. For San Jose State student-athletes, this means during intense workouts as well.

Raziya Potter, a guard on the SJSU women’s basketball team, said she constantly has to stop to catch her breath because of her face mask when she lifts weights during team workouts.  

“Whenever I’m out of breath and inhaling, the [mask] material comes into my nose and it’s super annoying,” Potter said over the phone.

Like Potter, all SJSU student-athletes are required to wear a face mask when doing conditioning activities indoors, such as weightlifting and running, according to the SJSU Athletics website. Sports that have resumed, such as football, men’s and women’s basketball, as well as other fall sports, are cleared to begin conditioning according to the NCAA meeting brief from Sept. 16 provided by Joe Waltasti, assistant athletics director for media relations. 

According to NCAA guidelines, all fall sports teams are required to wear masks on the field and when on the sidelines. 

Potter said she understands the masks are meant to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, but she also said they are inconvenient for her to wear when working out.

According to a June 12 British Journal of Sports Medicine blog post, when people do intense workouts they are likely to breathe harder and cough. 

This is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people who play sports wear a mask while exercising, because COVID-19 can be spread through air particles we emit when we breathe. The NCAA and the Mountain West Conference are upholding these policies set by the CDC according to an FAQ page on the NCAA website.

However, the American Council of Exercise stated that covering your nose and mouth during exercising reduces the flow of oxygen into a person’s lungs, resulting in increased fatigue during and after workouts. 

Senior linebacker Tysyn Parker, said he finds it difficult to breathe in masks when he runs, lifts weights or is trying to communicate with his teammates.

“That can be the most frustrating thing about wearing a mask,” Parker said over Zoom. “I’m having a conversation with somebody and they keep asking, ‘What did you say?’ ” 

When players engage in skill development exercises, they also wear a face shield fastened to the front of their football helmets, said Lawrence Fan, associate athletics director for football communications and special projects, in an email.

Senior point guard Danae Marquez, said that face masks might also interfere with communication between players and coaches during games. 

“Will we be able to hear our teammates as much as it used to be?” Marquez said over the phone. “Will we be able to hear our coaches? I’m really not sure what will happen.” 

The NCAA’S Division I Council decided on Sept. 16 that men’s and women’s basketball can start their seasons on Nov. 25, according to the meeting brief provided by Waltasti. 

The council is made up of athletic directors, administrators and student-athletes from various Division I universities across the country. 

The men’s and women’s basketball teams have been taking part in strength and conditioning activities, skill instructions and team meetings since the beginning of the semester. 

Junior guard Kaison Hammonds said, even though he doesn’t like to wear a mask while conditioning, he believes it won’t bother him once the season starts. 

“Basketball is the thing that I love to do the most,” Hammonds said over the phone. “I think once I get on the court that’s all I’m going to think about. I’m not really going to think about whether I contract the virus.” 

Like Hammonds, Marquez said that the women’s basketball team might not like wearing face masks but will comply with COVID-19 protocols so that the team can play.

“I think we’re all just willing to do whatever,” Marquez said. “If that means we have to wear a mask [during games and practices], so be it.”