SoCal Sports Advocates Challenge Gov. Newsom To Let Kids Compete

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — On a sunny day at the baseball fields in Tustin, a group of local leaders, coaches and players lined up, ready to go to bat for California's student-athletes.

With their rallying cry "Let them play!" they joined Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner, who is petitioning to "Open Cal Now." On Monday, he invited athletes past and present to speak on behalf of youth athletes across Orange County and Southern California. They called for Gov. Gavin Newsom to let youth leagues resume play.

Under state health orders, teams are required to practice social distancing and wear masks as a health and safety measures, a practical impossibility in most team sports. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines state that mask-wearing and social distancing are key to stopping the spread of the coronavirus, adding that youth sports teams "should consider competing against teams in their local neighborhood, town or community."

Seven months into the coronavirus shutdown, professional athletes have returned to the game, although with changes. Many stadiums are empty, without audiences cheering, and health and safety measures are firmly in place.

Meanwhile, California's youth athletes are still waiting to play competitive games on their home turf. At home in Southern California, coaches and local elected officials shared their open plea to Newsom to allow California kids to return to competitive play to keep those families close to home with health and safety protocols to guard against the COVID-19 virus.

Science says that children can and should be allowed to get out and play, Wagner told those gathered Monday.

"The children are forgotten in the state's inconsistent response," he said. "It's our job to look at science and advocate for them. We heard the ways our children are practicing safely today. We need to let them play games and compete, too."

As families raising competitive athletes are forced to take their children to neighboring states to play, the gaps widen for athletes from disadvantaged communities, Wagner said.

Joining Wagner was Mayor Brian Goodell of Mission Viejo.

"Mission Viejo is grateful to have opened our swimming and diving facilities," he said. Goodell spoke about the many sports fields and pools available across Orange County for competition. "Still, we shouldn't have to send our youth to Arizona to compete."

Goodell, along with 33 other Orange County mayors, said he felt it is "beyond time to make this happen and open up youth sports programs" across the Southland.

According to Olympic athlete Jessica Hardy, "sports were the only way I stayed out of trouble and used the full outlet of my energy" as a child. "This is a unique experience for all of us," she said. "To not offer competitive sports at this time is a great disservice to all of us."

Coast Soccer League Director Bernie Towers spoke on behalf of his 190 youth clubs and 2,400 soccer teams, amounting to 40,000 players.

"We believe that youth sports make for happier children, healthier families, and stronger communities," Towers said. "The greater value in youth sports comes from character development. The value in life skills acts as a compass for the future success of our players."

Towers' sentiments were echoed by Jonny Dunn, aquatics, and Justin Roswell, director of The Baseball Factory.

"Our teams are forced to go to Arizona, Utah, and Nevada to play," Roswell said. "We challenge Gov. Newsom for a timeline and action plan to allow kids to get back on the field in California."

In an extreme example, certain Orange County football players have temporarily relocated to Utah and surrounding states to play high school ball for recruiting purposes.

More frequently, each weekend since September, California sports families trek across the I-8, I-15, or I-10 to spend money on Arizona AirBNB or hotel rooms, at takeout and dine-in restaurants, and gas stations across state lines. Gone are the team vans, as each family group does their part to stay safe, even when not at home.

One such family from Temecula spoke with Patch about raising competitive student-athletes in a pandemic world.

The Willis family is raising twins, both competitive athletes and sophomores at Temecula Valley High School. Eric Willis discussed the challenges of attempting to do right by his son and daughter, both on the precipice of college recruiting in baseball and soccer.

"It's a burden for families to travel so far for game play," Willis told Patch. Every game thus far in 2020 has been an away game. Last month, they paid over $1,000 in expenses that they would not have paid if games were played in California, Willis said. "Luckily, our family can do it. But on our team, there may be families that simply can't afford it. Underprivileged communities are being costed out of competitive sports."

Moreover, athletes are at a physical disadvantage when it comes to playing teams from other states, Willis said. In Utah, Nevada, and Arizona, teams are already battling at high levels of competition, and California athletes are likely falling behind, which Willis worries could be detrimental come recruiting time.

According to Roswell, athletes are missing that vital part in their balance, if one follows the "rule of 33."

"Thirty-three percent is training, 33 percent is skill, and 33 percent is competition," Roswell explains. "They're missing that key element."

With the coronavirus pandemic have come many side effects including isolation, self-doubt and idleness in response to staying "safer at home."

Student-athletes are typically better-rounded and often excel both in their sport and the classroom, argued Roswell. Still, there is a crucial ingredient missing from all of that. With training and skill comes competition. Without that, there is regression, he added.

"COVID has taught our students that they can learn by themselves, in front of a computer. We've lost sight and wherewithal from our players to take instruction from a coach, to learn how to lose, and learn how to win," Roswell said. "To allow these players to have competition and learn how to win and lose is critical to our families."

Bob Turner, president of the California Youth Soccer Organization and executive director for Presidio League, said "enough is enough" regarding the ongoing moratorium on competitive play in California.

According to Turner, there is a way, and they've figured out the protocols to make every type of youth sports safe.

Those sports experts have drafted and finalized plans to keep contact between adults minimal, to keep the players masked up, with sanitization stations, temperature checks, and more.

In the spring, sports clubs and leagues shut down due to the coronavirus. During the slow start back, coaches and leagues worked to develop a health and safety protocol for return to play. Sports leaders flipped the script to focus on health and safety measures rather than just competition and skills. When training was shut down, they switched again to accommodate "camp" style play. Each player was asked to wear a mask, socially distance, temperature-check, and keep to their own equipment.

"If a parent won't wear a mask on the sidelines, that game will be forfeit. This is way more excessive than what is happening in Arizona," Turner says. "The kids are asking, 'What about us?'" he said. "We're supposed to be the adults. We should be advocating for the kids."

What are your thoughts on letting student-athletes return to play? Tell us in comments, or email your Patch Editor.We would love to hear your student-athlete's story.