Letter from the Editor: Healthy Dialogue

I recently received an email from a reader who was concerned about an article we ran in AB Today, our morning newsletter. The reader was worried that a story about new statements from the Centers for Disease Control about the possible spread of COVID-19 among participants in youth sports could be inflammatory and possibly spread unwarranted panic. In her email, the reader explained that she is the parent of kids in youth sports and that her community hadn't seen any spread of COVID-19 among young athletes, which I was happy to hear and is likely the case in many areas of the country.

I mention this correspondence because it's just one example of the complexities of the current situation, as our industry moves into a new phase of the pandemic. As a longstanding and trusted media outlet, Athletic Business aims to keep our readers informed on all aspects of not only the COVID-19 pandemic but your everyday operations — we're always seeking out and deferring to the expertise of professionals who have experience in whatever topic it is that we're exploring.

Differences in opinion are not just inevitable but necessary and of great value to the health of the discourse surrounding the important work done by our readership. Whether discussing the appropriate gym flooring materials for a given facility (page 48) or the right way to plan out the deck of an aquatics facility (40), our editorial staff strives to offer a wealth of information from diverse sources in hopes it will allow our readers to make the best decision for their own unique circumstances.

In the instance mentioned above, I stressed to the reader who contacted me how much I appreciated her feedback. No matter how one feels about masks, testing and vaccines (or for that matter synthetic turf verses natural grass), we can't make any progress toward excellence without an open and informed dialogue. In the end, that's what we hope you'll find in every issue of Athletic Business magazine.

This article originally appeared in the May 2021 issue of Athletic Business with the title "Healthy dialogue." Athletic Business is a free magazine for professionals in the athletic, fitness and recreation industry. Click here to subscribe.