As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag. Got a question? Submit it in the space on the right side of this page or email jon.solomon@aspeninstitute.org.
My son’s basketball team is starting to play again. I would love for him to play, but I’m not sure it’s the right thing to do. Is it safer to play indoors or outdoors?
Jessica Thompson
Playing indoors is believed to be riskier than outdoors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) prioritizes outdoor practice and play as much as possible, as opposed to indoor. “If playing inside, ensure ventilation systems or fans operate properly,” CDC wrote in its considerations for sports document. “Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible, for example by opening windows and doors. Do not open windows and doors if doing so poses a safety or health risk (e.g., risk of falling or triggering asthma symptoms) to players or others using the facility.”
Youth basketball organizers could look to play the sport more outside. Many scientists say that it’s easier for the virus to spread indoors than outdoors. Recently, 239 scientists from over 30 countries urged the World Health Organization (WHO) to take more seriously the possibility of the airborne spread of the virus as case numbers rise around the world and surge in the United States. The scientists claim there is mounting evidence that the virus can spread indoors through aerosols that linger in the air and can be infectious even in smaller quantities than previously thought.
The scientists in the paper contend that the virus can spread through aerosols, or tiny respiratory droplets, that infected people cough or otherwise release into the air. This could be especially dangerous in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor settings, and scientists believe it would account for a number of “superspreading” incidents.
Most public health guidelines have focused on social distancing measures, regular handwashing and precautions to avoid droplets. But the scientists of the paper say the potential of the virus to spread via airborne transmission has not been fully appreciated by the WHO, which said it will review the matter. If airborne transmission is a significant factor in the pandemic, masks may be needed indoors even in socially-distant settings, ventilation systems may need to minimize recirculating air and add powerful new filters, and ultraviolet lights may be needed to kill viral particles floating in tiny droplets indoors, The New York Times wrote.
“There is no reason for fear,” University of Colorado chemist Jose Jimenez, who signed the paper, told The Washington Post. “It is not like the virus has changed. We think it has been transmitted this way all along. Knowing about it helps target the measures to control the pandemic more accurately.”
Is it safe for children to participate in youth sports while wearing their mask? I have a 7-year-old. If she wears a mask to play, is there a risk to her health in the future?
Jim Carroll
CDC recognizes that a mask “may be challenging for players (especially younger players) to wear while playing sports.” Some kids may not keep the mask on and have difficulty breathing during physical exertion. Several national sports organizations recommend that masks be worn for youth at all times, except when involved in physical activity. In other words, wear a mask during team meetings, and when entering and exiting the field/facility after a game or practice.
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CDC recommends masks should be worn by coaches, youth sports staff, officials, parents and spectators “as much as possible.” Experts say it’s clear that masks can help prevent the spread of the virus. Remember, masks are not intended to protect the wearer, but rather to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. The more people wearing masks, the better. With so many major youth sports gatherings now back, organizers should consider how to enforce mask-wearing to try to control the spread.
For example, more than 1,000 spectators and players attended a regional youth lacrosse tournament on June 27-28 in Texas, where cases have spiked and the governor has scaled back the state’s reopening. The lacrosse company that operated this outdoor event handed out about 100 masks to people who arrived without one. Two safety directors checked the sideline to make sure people were wearing masks when required, according to the Austin American-Statesman. However, photographs of the tournament showed many spectators and some adults on the sidelines not wearing masks.
This is a major challenge for youth sports, which often bring together hundreds or thousands of people from different regions of the country. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll showed 89% of Americans who left their home in the last week said they wore a mask or face covering – a 20-point increase since mid-April. It’s not clear if respondents wore masks every time they left home or only when they came in close contact with others. As of late June, only 18 states require masks to be worn in businesses, according to Masks4All.
We would like information on financial relief to help our players and parents during the pandemic. Where do we look for help?
Ed Simon
There are many options. DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations that help youth from low socioeconomic communities and families. Good Sports accepts applications on a rolling basis to be considered for equipment donation, provided the organization serves youth in an economically disadvantaged area and charges a participation fee of $300 or less. Nike provides grants and product donations to help communities. MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation supports capital projects, programming and education initiatives for baseball and softball. U.S. Soccer Foundation collects and redistributes soccer equipment to children in underserved communities who don’t have the resources to play.
LeagueSide has a whole list of sports sponsorship grant opportunities. It’s important to carefully read through eligibility requirements upfront to recognize if your organization can apply for a certain grant. Keep in mind that the process of applying for and receiving a grant can take a long time. LeagueSide offers a local sponsorship guide with five tips on how to raise money more quickly through local businesses.
We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag. Got a question? Submit it in the form in this page’s sidebar or email jon.solomon@aspeninstitute.org.
