HEALTHY FAMILY
Playing it Safe
Youth sports in the COVID-19 climate
D uring this pandemic, so many cher-
ished routines have been sacrificed,
and the loss of sports is one that really
stings for lots of kids. Not only do sports pro-
vide a way to stay fit and have fun, but they are
also sources of socialization and confidence.

And, of course, they are outlets for stress relief
for kids who are feeling isolated and fearful in
today’s world.

Some of us were able to keep our kids busy
in the spring and summer with outdoor activ-
ities. Camps were operational with added
precautions, and a number of sports teams
were thankful to continue some degree of
practice time (with or without the ability to
compete in matchups). As the weather cools
and many sports move indoors, there will be
added challenges for organizers, parents and
young athletes.

So, we wonder: Will kids be able to stay
involved and active and avoid decondition-
ing as they await return to the games they
love? I checked in with three local experts to
see where they stand on the subject of youth
sports during these precarious months.

Kids need to play
Alex Jacobs, owner of Coppermine Field-
house, runs their facilities in Baltimore
County and Carroll County, and oversaw ser-
vicing of more than 4,000 sports campers this
summer, with abundant protocols including
temperature checks, sanitizing stations and
controlled drop-off and pickup areas. Masks
were mandated in public spaces, but camps
were exempted.

Jacobs looked at risks for coronavirus in
youth under age 19 and felt confident his crews
could manage participants and regulate the
environment. “Coppermine is a private entity, with cus-
tomers. Everyone who enters the facility has
been sent protocols in advance,” he says. “If
they want to participate, they will follow pro-
tocols. If people understand the amount of
caution being put into operations, they will see
32 WashingtonFAMILY SEPTEMBER 2020
that it is probably safer to do these organized
activities than it is to go to a store or other pub-
lic places.”
“Kids need to play sports,” Jacobs says.

“Parents need this help, too. It’s exhausting,
physically and mentally ... not just to do all the
things grownups need to do, but also to man-
age keeping a child active and involved.”
Parents understand the risk, and the paren-
tal feedback collected by Coppermine was
overwhelmingly positive, with about 90 per-
cent of parents being all-in, and the other 10
percent feeling extra cautious, he says. The
kids who have stopped playing out of caution
will not be left behind when things start to
normalize again, he believes. Others may use
this break as a time to reevaluate whether their
sport is still important to them. If they aren’t
missing their sport, this can be a great time to
discover new interests.

Whatever pastime they choose, however,
“becoming dormant is not an option,” he
says. “If you want to stay healthy, you have
to be active. Staying on lockdown and avoid-
ing sports and exercise denies you of building
immunity. You miss out on mental health ben-
efits, endorphins and interaction with other
kids. Zoom and FaceTime are OK substitutes,
but not a long-term solution.”
And while exercise can be done anywhere,
he points out that team dynamics bring addi-
tional benefits.

“Being part of a team, that collective effort,
the relationships, resolving conflict…kids get
life lessons through sports,” Jacobs says.

And young athletes miss the role-model
presence of coaches when their sport is side-
lined. “Coaches are important mentors for
kids, supporting them, pushing them to chal-
lenge themselves, giving positive reinforce-
ment, giving opportunities for leadership and
confidence,” he says.

As colder weather drives sports indoors,
COVID-19 precautions will pose more of a
challenge. Jacobs says that with basketball,
for example, they will operate fewer courts
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BY COURTNEY MCGEE



HEALTHY FAMILY
“Youth sports can still be safe, and physi-
and might not have spectators. They will keep
sanitizing and safety protocols strict, and do cal activity is absolutely necessary to support
a child’s healthy growth and development,”
whatever they can to keep operating safely.

she says.

When evaluating activities for their child,
Kids need to move
parents should consider the amount of risk
Dave Miele, co-owner and director of opera-
tions at BEAST Baseball, agrees wholeheart- the activity will incur, if your child or someone
edly that kids should keep playing sports in your family is at an increased health risk, if
the program promote behaviors that reduce
during the pandemic.

“Young athletes must stay active and fit to possible virus spread and if it maintains a safe
promote growth in their sport-specific skills, environment.

“Expect all activities, inside or outside, to
as well as their physical and mental fortitude,”
he says. “I believe they can practice any sport look a little different,” she says.

In Motter-Mast’s opinion, contact sports
they choose, as long as they are following
such as wrestling, football, basketball and
guidelines from state and local officials.”
“Being part of a team, that collective effort,
the relationships, resolving conflict…kids
get life lessons through sports.”
Alex Jacobs
lacrosse are the most dangerous for COVID-19
transmission. Tennis, cross country, golf and
gymnastics are the least dangerous.

Parents should be compassionate and
resourceful to keep their child active and con-
nected with friends and teammates, she says.

“If you or your child is fearful about partic-
ipation, there are virtual gym classes and per-
sonal coaching widely available online, as well
online games that encourage movement and
provide competition for engagement,” she says.

Youth sports are more than child’s play—
they can profoundly affect mental and physi-
cal wellbeing, too.

“For children and youth, closures of schools
and parks, cancellations of organized sports
and recreational activities and increased acces-
sibility to and time spent on screens may nega-
tively impact their physical activity, leading to
a more sedentary lifestyle,” Motter-Mast says.

“This may trigger declines in mood and sleep
behaviors, and can lead to a further increase
in childhood obesity. While sedentary behav-
ior certainly has no effect on the immunity,
Kids need other kids
For those who crave team interaction during exercising in moderation is associated with
the pandemic, there are ways to play safely, improved immune competency and a reduced
says Dr. Robin Motter-Mast, chief of staff and risk of illness.

“The bottom line,” she says, “is to keep
medical director of care transformation at
moving!” T
Greater Baltimore Medical Center.

Parents need to make educated decisions
about allowing their athletes to participate or
not, he says. And common sense must prevail:
If a parent or an athlete has been sick or near
someone who is sick, then they simply must
stay home.

Most schools have already cancelled fall and
winter sports, but athletes can still find ways
to practice and even compete if they desire.

“Club and travel-level organizations around
the area have plenty of opportunities avail-
able for athletes to stay in their game with the
absence of school-organized competition,”
Miele says. “Gyms are now reopening at lim-
ited capacity, too, which gives another option
for older athletes to get training. If you’re
not comfortable with team organized sports
during this time, there are other options
for keeping kids moving. Try some type
of recreational activity, like running, bike
riding, swimming, hiking, kayaking or canoe-
ing, just to name a few.”
What’s Risky?
What’s Not?
Dr. Motter-Mast provides
these guidelines for evaluating
activities. • Lowest Risk: Performing skill-
building drills or conditioning
at home, alone or with
family members
• Increasing Risk: Team-
based practice
• More Risk: Within-team
competition • Even More Risk: Competition
between teams from the
same local geographic area
• Highest Risk: Competition
between teams from different
geographic areas
Factors for assessing risk
of group play:
• Physical closeness of players
and the length of time that
players are close to each other
or to staff
• Amount of necessary touching
of shared equipment, such as
protective gear, balls, bats,
racquets, mats or water bottles
• Ability to engage in social
distancing while not actively
playing, such as during
practice, on the sideline or
in a dugout
• Age of the player
• A player’s medical health
and any pre-existing medical
conditions • Size of the team—more
players equal greater risk
• Number of non-essential
visitors, such as spectators or
volunteers • Travel outside the
community—teams should
consider competing only
against area teams
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