Courtesy of Under Armour
As young athletes struggle to compete during the Coronavirus pandemic, Under Armour is making sure they can still play responsibly. In collaboration with NBA All-Star Stephen Curry and Under Armour’s Pro Athlete partners, the company will donate more than 35,000 UA Sportsmasks to young boys and girls dealing with the pandemic effects in cities like Oakland, Nashville, Baltimore, and other communities this fall.
The UA Sportsmask, which launched earlier this summer, is designed exclusively for athletes to wear while training. Unlike other masks, the UA Sportsmask uses innovative technology to keep players cool and comfortable.
Under Armour continues to invest in young athletes and provide them with performance masks – a training necessity in today’s pandemic environment. These masks often run a higher price than generic face covers currently in the market and maybe unattainable for many young athletes.
Although a mask cannot conquer all the challenges presented by the Coronavirus for young athletes, Under Armour hopes the donation will help them get back to training and improve their mental health, something many athletes struggle with as they are still unable to practice or compete.
Courtesy of Under Armour
A recent study by the University of Wisconsin shows that the inability to play sports during the pandemic has heightened the anxiety and depression of high school athletes. Nearly 70% of those surveyed indicated they had experienced noticeable effects on their mental health due to a lack of sports.
Janissa Salazer, a student in Oakland Unified School District, is one of these athletes grappling with canceled sports seasons, closed practice facilities and gyms, and an unclear path forward as an aspiring young athlete.
“Coronavirus has had a very big impact on me,” said Salazer. “It’s cut down on time on the golf course, where I normally could remain active during the offseason and get some swings in.” Salazer was one of many student-athletes in Oakland to receive a mask from Under Armour and Stephen Curry.
Courtesy of Under Armour
“All over the world people are facing unimaginable circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and for young athletes, that also means new barriers to practice and compete with their teammates.”
– Stephen Curry
“I am proud to partner with Under Armour to help provide the Oakland community with the equipment needed to help weather this pandemic and continue our shared mission in positively impacting our communities and operating with a greater purpose in all that we do,” said Curry.
Stephen’s love for the sport of golf and helping to empower the youth is no secret. He partnered with Howard University to launch its first Division I Golf Program last summer.
