Youth sports teams seek clarity as counties reopen

Parents and youth sport team leaders are seeking clear and concise guidelines as communities reopen.

ROELAND PARK HAVE ALSODECIDED TO KEEP POOLSCLOSED THIS SUMMER.RIGHT NOW - YOUNGATHLETES ARE READY TOGET BACK TO PRACTICEAND GAMES.AS 41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER ANDRESGUTIERREZ EXPLAINS -WHEN IT'S TIME TO HIT THEGYM OR THE FIELD - THEYMUST FOLLOW STRICTGUIDELINES.Lisa Brock/Parentwe can't do our sport outside.We have to have ourequipmentLISA BROCK'S DAUGHTERIS A GYMNAST WHO ISBACK AT HER PRACTICEFACILITY IN LIBERTY...BUT ONLY AFTER BROCKAND OTHER PARENTSLAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN OFLETTERS, E-MAILS ANDCALLS TO CLAY COUNTYOFFICIALS.Lisa Brock/ParentAdult gym could open So wedidn't understand why our gymwasn't able to open.

We hadto be shut downOVER THE WEEKEND CLAYCOUNTY ADJUSTED THEIRRULES, ALLOWINGGYMNASTICS FACILITIESTO OPEN UNDER THE SAMEGUIDELINES AS OTHERGYMS.Lisa Brock/ParentWe were very thankful thatthey changed their mind thatwe were allowed to open butwe didn't want them to forgetthat there's other youth sportsout there that also wants to beopen and playMONDAY MORNINGPARENTS AND YOUNGATHLETES GATHEREDOUTSIDE THE HEALTHDEPARTMENT TO VOICETHAT MESSAGE.Lisa Brock/ParentLet's get our kids back outthere playing safely.MEANWHILE PLATTECOUNTY HAS ALSOREVISED ITS PLANS TOALLOW SOME TEAMSPORTS TO RESUMEPRACTICE WITH VERYSPECIFIC MODIFICATIONS.Kristen Davis, executivedirector ofKC Premiere Basketball & ViceChairof the Platte County SportsCommissionWe need to hone in on howexactly we make that happenbecause the wording is a littlebit ambiguous in the clauseand we need to get furtherguidance from the healthdepartment.TO HELP THEM OUT MANYLEADERS OF YOUTHSPORTS TEAMS AROUNDTHE METRO ARE DRAWINGUP THEIR OWN GUIDELINESCONSISTENT WITH LOCALAND FEDERALRECOMMENDATIONS.USA SOFTBALL OF KANSASCITY PROVIDED 41 ACTIONNEWS THIS DRAFT OFTHEIRS.SOME OF THE NEWREQUIREMENTS INCLUDE:--TEAMS PROVIDING &DISPLAYING HANDSANITIZER IN THEDUGOUT...--CLOSING THE FIRST 2ROWS OF BLEACHERS--NO HANDSHAKES AT THEEND OF THE GAME.INSTEAD, TEAMS AREASKED WAVEKristen Davis, executivedirector ofKC Premiere Basketball & ViceChairof the Platte County SportsCommission"We're going to have torestrict direct participation,because of all of the newprecautions that we're goingto have to put into place.

It'sjust going to take a number ofmonths to build theprogramming back up andmake sure everybody feelssafe and comfortable returningto play"THE HEALTH BOARD INPLATTE COUNTY MEETS ATTUESDAY EVENING AT7--YOUTH SPORTS IS ONTHE AGENDA.PLATTE AND CLAYCOUNTIES HOPE TO GETCOMPETITIONS GOING BYJUNE 1STANDRES GUTIERREZ.

41ACTION NEWS.IN JOHNSON COUNTY -SPORTS CAN BEGIN INPHASE 2 OF KANSAS'SREOPENING.THAT WILL BE JUNE 1ST ATTHE EARLIEST.IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY -SPORTING EVENTS CANBEGIN WHEN THE COUNTYENTERS THE YELLOWZONE - WHICH WILL BE NOSOONER THAN MA