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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