Episode 20: Youth Sports During Covid-19

Additional resources

COVID-19 and youth sports

Q1: Are youth who participate in sports at higher risk than other children?

It depends. Where athletes train, practice and compete matters. COVID-19 is more likely to spread in closed indoor spaces with poor ventilation. Since masks aren’t required during competition, training or practice, close contact sports are riskier than more distanced sports. 

For example, golf is outdoors and easily distanced, so it’s lower risk. Wrestling is indoors and very close contact, so it’s higher risk. Football is outdoors, but there is frequent close contact. Basketball is both indoors and close contact. Swimming is

typically indoors, and while there is no physical contact, swimmers are only a few feet apart during a swimming match. Every activity has some level of risk. .

Q2: What about sharing equipment? 

If youth are training on shared equipment, such as for weight training, it’s best to follow the CDC’s recommendations for gyms—Wipe the equipment down after using it. If they don’t know if a piece has been cleaned, wipe it down before using it. Schools should be making sure facilities and equipment are cleaned and disinfected regularly. Coaches and staff should also remind players about the importance of cleaning shared equipment.

During practice or competition, it’s unlikely that there is time to frequently disinfect equipment like a basketball or football. So that’s when players need to be reminded to keep their hands away from their mouth, nose and eyes. Use the back of your arm to wipe away sweat, for example.

Q3: You mentioned masks aren’t required during competition. That just applies while youth are actively playing, right? And it also applies during practice.

That’s right. According to the Oregon School Athletics Association (OSAA), students are not required to wear a mask when practicing or playing a competitive sport at any level. That’s indoors and outdoors. It also includes cheerleading and dance/drill teams. 

Students do have to wear a mask when they are on the sidelines. They also have to wear masks when they are in the weight room.

At any school sporting event, all spectators have to wear a face covering. So do sports officials, when they aren’t actively officiating.

Q4: What about officials and referees at youth sporting events? Do they need to be vaccinated? How does their presence impact youth exposure to COVID-19?

Sports officials are considered contractors/service providers to OSAA member schools, so they are also required to be fully vaccinated or provide their school documentation of a medical or religious exception. If they don’t this by October 18, 2021, they cannot officiate school events, regardless of where the event is held. 

Q5: What will youth participation look like for Athletic Amateur Union (AAU) activities, specifically for basketball? 

AAU has published guidelines for participation in AAU-sanctioned basketball games. They include:

Q6. How can parents help to keep the COVID-19 pandemic in check among our young athletes?

Open communication is best. If their child, or any other household member, gets sick from COVID-19, parents should let the coach and team know so that fellow team members can exercise caution. 

Make sure you know what your school district is doing and let them know if you have concerns with COVID-19 safety at any school events. You can find COVID-19 information for your school district on the Oregon Department of Education website.

Outside of school, there are probably too many programs to mention them all here. But you know which ones your kids participate in. You can contact them, visit their website, and learn about their COVID-19 safety procedures. For example, Portland Parks and Recreation has a page about their COVID-19 procedures.

It’s also important to stay home if you’re sick and showing symptoms of COVID-19. Stay home from school. Don’t go to practice. You may have to miss a game. But missing one game to quarantine is better than passing the virus to your fellow players and canceling future games. This has already happened in some parts of Oregon.

The best protection for everyone is to get vaccinated if they can. 

Document accessibility: For individuals with disabilities or individuals who speak a language other than English, OHA can provide information in alternate formats such as translations, large print, or braille. Contact the Health Information Center at 1-971-673-2411, 711 TTY or COVID19.LanguageAccess@dhsoha.state.or.us.