Team sports have been hit hard during COVID-19, but none has been more difficult to play than the sport of football.
Just ask Will McCharles.
"It has been really hard," he said.
"You had some months where the gyms were open and everything is good, and then total shutdown. The fact that it has been going on for almost two years is very challenging for athletes all over the place."
The aspiring tight end last played tackle football with the St. Joseph-Scollard Hall Bears Junior Team back in the fall of 2019 where he recorded seven touchdowns and over 500 receiving yards.
Since then, he has been trying to do weights and played flag football with no tackle football permitted in the region due to COVID-19.
"I have been using the resources that I can," said the 17-year-old.
"So if the gyms are closed and I can still go workout at someone's house I will go to my buddies, or if I can't do that I will go out for a run or do something in my household to just find a way to stay fit. Also, I will do hill climbs because it is good resistance training so I can find a way to get it done because sometimes you just have to find a way to get it done."
McCharles is hoping his latest opportunity, joining the Football North program in Southern Ontario will help him make up for lost time.
He was recruited by the football-style sports school based in Mississauga and will be moving to the GTA in July to begin a season that includes playing competition south of the border.
The 6'3, 210 lb. tight end who idolizes Rob Gronkowski, caught the eye of the school - which is run by former Toronto Argonauts head coach Adam Rita - when he was part of the Under-16 Eastern Challenge football event in Kingston back in the summer of 2019.
See related: North Bay athlete gears up for Eastern Football Challenge
However, with a lack of football in the north during COVID-19, he was worried this opportunity would have passed him.
"That kind of jeopardized my opportunity to do this and then they ended up calling to see if I was still interested, and they had a plan that may work with COVID-19 being around," he said.
He believes the opportunity to compete with and against some very good players will make him better as well.
"To be able to play for some really good coaches who have experience at the next level is fantastic," he said.
"Even just practicing with this team, some of these players are going to go places and hopefully that is me too. Some players on my team are going to play NCAA Division I or II so the competition is just going to be fantastic."
McCharles is excited to focus on becoming a better football player. He says he takes pride in two things; his blocking and going north after the catch.
"Nowadays I think tight ends don't focus on their blocking as much but I am different. I focus on my blocking a lot as well as my run after the catch," said the former hockey player who was recruited to play defence for the Temiscaming Titans of the non-sanctioned Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League in 2020.
"When I get the ball in my hands I just go straight. There is no 'dipsy-doodling,' I just go straight."
While moving away will be tough, McCharles is thankful for the great family support system around him that helped make this dream become a reality.
"It is my first time moving away but I look at all the people that want to go play and sometimes you have to make sacrifices," he said.
"I know when I move away I will have support back here and there. Although it is going to be a challenge I am sure I can pull through."
Barring any COVID-19 related delays, McCharles will pack his bags and head to training camp July 15 and he expects to travel to the United States with his Football North team in mid-August where they will play competition from Texas and Florida.
