What health experts say about youth sports resuming in KC and what’s on the schedule
As Kansas and Missouri reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, youth sports are also resuming.
But it’s not as simple as slapping on a helmet and swinging the bat, said David Smith, youth sports medicine medical director at the University of Kansas Health System and Kansas State High School Activities Association advisory committee member. There are numerous factors, including what precautions to take and which kids are able to suit up.
“We have to be careful no matter when we start,” Smith said. “These are going to be ongoing issues that we’ll deal with. Youth sports runs the gamut from club sports to sanctioned sports to recreational sports to parks and rec.”
Based on its guidelines, Smith said KSHSAA recommended a June 1 restart for youth sports. Many youth baseball and softball leagues in the Kansas City area are aiming for that early June start. Leagues wanting to resume are largely dependent on whether fields are available.
Youth sports in Kansas are currently allowed under Gov. Laura Kelly’s Phase 2 reopening guidelines. Johnson County 3&2 baseball has a tournament scheduled this weekend.
Events in Missouri are scheduled to start next week. USA Softball of KC starts its tournament season June 5. The North Kansas City Association baseball league intends to start the season June 1. KC Sports Tournaments anticipates it will get approval to play games in Liberty starting June 1.
“Our decision was to start playing as soon as the facilities would allow us to do so,” said Mary Mahoney, KC USA Softball girls fastpitch commissioner. “The first facilities that are opening are on the Kansas side. … But we’re going to start playing the June 5 weekend.”
When it comes to the coronavirus, it’s important to consider more than just your child, said Vincent Key, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Kansas Health System. While your child playing team sports might not be at risk, Key said if they bring the virus home, it could be dangerous for family members.
“If there’s anyone at home who’s immunocompromised or folks that have had underlying lung disease or whatever, you have to take all those people into consideration,” Key said. “It’s not just the child. It’s everything around the child and the entire family.”
Other precautions need to be taken, Smith said, which includes social distancing and how the kids interact among themselves. While baseball or softball isn’t a contact sport, there are some confined areas that are part of the game, like the dugout.
To ensure kids aren’t breaking social distancing rules, Smith said there needs to be an adult responsible for breaking up clusters. While masks are difficult to wear while exercising — especially for an outdoor sport — Smith said he worries about any bullying that could occur if a child chose to wear a face mask. He said that area also falls under the adult to keep the kids in check.
“It’s going to require someone that’s going to have to be a police officer,” Smith said. “If I’m in a youth dugout, it’s going to me or I’m going to assign an assistant coach or a parent to watch that and educate.”
The most difficult aspect to shake, Key said, are habits. While baseball is a non-contact sport, he said the camaraderie and team angle of sports makes it difficult to refrain from celebrating.
“Someone hits a home run, what’s the first thing you’re going to do?” Key said. “You may high five, you may jump up and down and everyone gets close together. It’s going to be kind of changing our cultural habits a little bit.”
Whatever health and league officials decide, Smith said there’s added incentive to get it right starting from the ground floor — youth sports.
“The youth sports, we’re going to be the model,” Smith said. “Before the NFL comes around in the fall. We’re a test pilot for what’s happening right now.”