HIGH-CONTACT YOUTH SPORTS CAN NOW BEGIN SEASON AFTER CALIFORNIA LOOSENS RESTRICTIONS
By Rodrigo Osorio
El Rodeo Staff Writer
El Rodeo Staff Writer
The California Department of Public Health updated its guidelines for youth and high school sports in the state late last week, adjusting where sports fall on the tier system.
Specifically, high-contact outdoor sports like football, water polo, and soccer are now allowed in red (substantial risk) or purple (widespread risk) tiers in the state’s COVID-19 reopening system, though there will be restrictions. Previously, those sports were not allowed until a county reached the orange tier (moderate risk).
For these outdoor high-contact sports to be allowed in countries in the red and purple tiers, those counties must have a case rate below 14 per 100,000 residents per day.
A weekly testing component for participants aged 13 and older is required with these sports being allowed to resume in counties with a new daily case rate between 7 and 14 per 100,000 residents.
After a dramatic decrease in new cases from the state’s peak in mid-January, the state average of new positive tests over the last 7 days is 19 per 100,000 residents. According to New York Times data, 36 of California’s 58 counties still have new daily positive test rates higher than 14 per 100,000, but most of those counties are trending rapidly toward being below that threshold by the time the new rules take effect on February 26.
The national average over the last week is about 22 new cases per 100,000 residents, though extreme weather across much of the country has likely suppressed testing efforts.
Most indoor sports, with volleyball being the primary exception (moving to the orange tier from the red tier), remain in the “yellow” tier when played indoors.
Counties have the right to alter the guidelines, but only in one direction: making them stricter.
Among aquatic sports, outdoor swimming & diving were allowed under all tiers when competed outdoors in a state where most competitive aquatics facilities are outside. Indoor swimming & diving remains in the orange tier.
Specifically, high-contact outdoor sports like football, water polo, and soccer are now allowed in red (substantial risk) or purple (widespread risk) tiers in the state’s COVID-19 reopening system, though there will be restrictions. Previously, those sports were not allowed until a county reached the orange tier (moderate risk).
For these outdoor high-contact sports to be allowed in countries in the red and purple tiers, those counties must have a case rate below 14 per 100,000 residents per day.
A weekly testing component for participants aged 13 and older is required with these sports being allowed to resume in counties with a new daily case rate between 7 and 14 per 100,000 residents.
After a dramatic decrease in new cases from the state’s peak in mid-January, the state average of new positive tests over the last 7 days is 19 per 100,000 residents. According to New York Times data, 36 of California’s 58 counties still have new daily positive test rates higher than 14 per 100,000, but most of those counties are trending rapidly toward being below that threshold by the time the new rules take effect on February 26.
The national average over the last week is about 22 new cases per 100,000 residents, though extreme weather across much of the country has likely suppressed testing efforts.
Most indoor sports, with volleyball being the primary exception (moving to the orange tier from the red tier), remain in the “yellow” tier when played indoors.
Counties have the right to alter the guidelines, but only in one direction: making them stricter.
Among aquatic sports, outdoor swimming & diving were allowed under all tiers when competed outdoors in a state where most competitive aquatics facilities are outside. Indoor swimming & diving remains in the orange tier.