“Our mission is to bring youth sports back to California safely and immediately”

BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) - As the State of California and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) continue to struggle with returning student athletes to the courts, the “Let Them Play CA” movement is gaining serious momentum.

The CIF, which governs most school-based sports, has restricted play, postponed and cancelled seasons across a myriad of sports genres in accordance with California State Health Department COVID-19 operating precautions. Thus, many student athletes have had little to no game-time in nearly a year with postponed Fall 2020 contact sport seasons to Spring of 2021 looking more unlikely and unsatisfying. Meanwhile, educators press the state to re-open schools over the extreme concern of students’ deteriorating mental health, with coaches and parents loudly echoing those same sentiments.

Organized online January 14^th, 2021, the “Let Them Play CA” is a beacon of light for those hoping to get back to regularly scheduled sports. The movement gives athletes, parents, and coaches the platform to voice their growing concerns and frustrations, creating leverage on policy makers at the organizational CIF level up to those at the California State Capitol.

“Our mission is to bring youth sports back to California safely and immediately,” says Co-founder Brad Hensley.  In just over the 6 weeks since its inception, Let Them Play CA has grown to over 60,000 members state-wide. Assemblyman James Gallagher has joined the “Let Them Play” team and together with Assembly member Kevin McCarty, is rallying lawmakers to back the effort to get students back onto courts and fields as soon as possible. So far, 42 Assembly members, Senators and other lawmakers have shown their support and signed on to get students back in play.

On February 11^th, 2021, Hensley, accompanied by fellow Let Them Play organization members, athletes from across the state and their families took to the steps of the California State Capitol. Athletes quietly carried boxes containing 10,000 emails, letters and signatures collected in just 5 days and laid them at the steps of the capitol.  The messages, penned by athletes, their parents and concerned citizens were address to Governor Gavin Newsom, pleading for him to lift the band on competitive sports.

The pressure on lawmakers has yet to produce any big changes to restricted youth sports at this time, but Let Them Play CA remains hopeful.

Butte County, which is in the Purple Tier of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, currently allows for youth athletes to compete in cross county, golf, tennis, swimming and diving with COVID-19 restrictions in place.

For more information on the movement, please visit Let Them Play CA on Facebook.