I'd like to start talking about return to play with this statement:
Ultimate is not necessary for survival.

Does it have physical benefits? Of course (tell that to my broken down hips). But the physical benefits of ultimate can be replicated in lower risk activity
1/7

Does ultimate have social & mental health benefits? Undoubtedly. I remember a time where W night pickup in Maryland was the only thing I looked forward to M-F.

But there are less hazardous ways to interact, in person or virtually, during this pandemic
2/7

So my conclusion about ultimate is that it is an unnecessary privilege to play right now.

I have seen Spirit of the Game invoked to describe our responsibility to one another. If we don't need to risk harm to others, why do it? I'm not eloquent enough to make this argument
3/7

But what I will invoke is the risks faced during a game. If 14 people came together to play, we would have 14 isolated households now mixing their risk profiles together. Rather than all 14 living separately, they now interact w/the exposures of the other 13.
4/7

I look at our peer High Risk sports from he IDPH list. One thing they have in common is the potential for contact w/many individuals. (should basketball go in this group?) I don't see how a full game of 7v7 gets played w/o almost every individual interacting w/all others
5/7

I find it nigh on impossible to play a game with assigned O-to-D all time match ups where only 2 people are exposed to one another. Plus, the 7 on a team would be exposed.
Why would we risk exposing our bubble to anyone else's when playing?
6/7

I am of the conclusion that I will not play any ultimate until Illinois' Phase V. Both exposing myself (if I had a dollar...) & my bubble to the risks of others while exposing them to my risks is not worth it to me. I will not be a source of spread.
Stay home. Save lives.
7/7