In the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic halted mostly all in-person activities. Young athletes were forced off the fields and the courts—and into a downward trend of youth who decided they wouldn’t go back. This illustration depicts the issue. It shows a softball player getting ready to bat. Written on the ball coming toward her are issues student athletes face today, including lack of motivation and depression. These issues, experts say, are factors contributing to their disinterest in returning to play. Illustration By Mei Wai Lee.