Youth Sports Practices Postponed Indefinitely: Report

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Though Orange County's youth athletes returned to training in mid-June, one month later, there is a hard stop to team workouts.
In March, all tournaments, practices, games, and gatherings halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On June 15, school districts and club teams in Orange County returned to the fields with strict sanitization and safety plans.

Then, in early July, the State of California amended its guidance regarding allowing young athletes. On order from Sacramento, all youth sports activities were called to a sudden halt. Likewise, gyms and other indoor operations were ordered closed once again by Gov. Newsom, Monday.

Newport Mesa Unified School District was one of many Orange County school districts ready to allow athletes back on the fields the first week of July. Those plans were put on hold by the state, a ruling upheld by the county, who is awaiting further instruction.

The California Department of Public Health, which provides guidelines specific to school-based sports and extracurricular activities, has yet to release direction for team sports or recreational youth sports activities, according to a Newport Mesa Unified School District spokesperson.

Though each district and club released strategic plans related to social distancing, temperature checks, sanitization stations, and more before returning in June, one month later, they remain in a holding pattern.

New guidelines were promised for youth teams Monday. However, after rollbacks struck the state Monday, there was no timeline given for the release of practices. There has been no word from CIF on return to physical activity or training since June 12. According to their website, a determination on Fall sports is supposed to be made by that organization by July 20.

According to Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod, on July 20, CIF regional and state championship dates will be announced for all fall, winter, and spring sports. The CIF will then work backward for dates of first interscholastic competition, and end of the regular season, playoff dates, and Southern Section Championship finals. For all that to take place, it will require some "vision, creativity, flexibility and teamwork" as well as an "unwavering commitment from all involved."

Whether or not CIF will be able to adhere to that day is unknown. Currently, there is no scheduled time by which the state will reopen youth sports," information manager Molly Nichelson said.

Orange County CEO Frank Kim discussed the issue of halting youth sports at the high school and club level just one month after they were allowed to begin again.
The state provided guidance allowed local sports, Kim said, and Orange County did the "exact appropriate thing" by re-issuing the press release. They also reopened conversations with the Orange County Department of Education, according to Kim.

"I see this being a completely open and transparent process," he told the Los Angeles Times.

That transparency is clouded, according to districts like Newport Mesa Unified, attempting to engage their athletes with fresh air, exercise, and team building.
Now, they await the return of coaches and athletes.

According to a report in the Los Angeles Times, Costa Mesa's Estancia High School Athletic Director Nate Goellrich had to break the news to 500 student-athletes ready to go when the closure struck. He told The Times, "putting a pause on (youth sports) is gut-wrenching, but I understand why it happened."

Should youth athletics be pushed further down the governor's list? Or do you feel youth sports should reopen?

Tell us why, and how the sports shutdown affects your child or team, in comments or by emailing your Patch editor.