BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) -At one moment, the future of youth sports looks grim – the next there is hope for resuming the season.

On July 20, 2020, the California Interscholastic Federation announced that the Fall sports season would be delayed until December 2020, or January of 2021. At that time, Butte County was not yet on the State of California watchlist and because of that, the CIF Northern Section announced its intentions to break with the CIF decision and resume sports as regularly scheduled.  The hopes of youth and their parents were dashed just two days later as Butte County was placed on the monitoring list.

On Monday, August 3^rd, the California Department of Public Health released new guidance on youth sports, suggesting that youth sports at the school-based, club and recreational program levels may be able to kick-off as long as certain criteria are met.

Of course, these criteria are incredibly restrictive and do no favors for most sports like football, basketball, or soccer. The new state guidance outlines that outdoor and indoor sporting events, assemblies, and other activities that require close contact or would promote congregating are not permitted at this time. No tournaments, competitions, etc. are allowed. A physical distancing of 6 feet is still required as well as “cohorts” or groups that contain a specific number of members that remain as an isolated unit. Also, face coverings must be worn and activities that require heavy exertion must be conducted outside (wearing a mask).

For more detailed information, visit the CDPH COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Youth Sports release at: https://tinyurl.com/yy6mz63o.