Petition calling for high school sports receives nearly 12,000 signatures

But the practicality of a high school sports season this fall during Phase II of Oregon's reopening is a bit tricky.

Of floyds death any level to happen during the pandemic is a complex situation and one that gets even trickier as you go down the ladder.

(topic key) the 'let them play' petition is now approaching nearly 12,000 signatures.

Supporters include local high school athletes and coaches.

And the push for high school sports in phase two was started right here in southern oregon by one of the jackson county commissioners.

(take rick key) rick dyer says, "to me and the way i feel about.

These sports and the, what they teach kids.

And the benefits to kids are so valuable that people understand that and they want to do something about it."

The governor's office issued a statement to newswatch 12 sports in response to the petition's growing support.

In it, deputy communication s director charles boyle says, quote, our office continues to engage in conversations with stakeholders from the professional level to the youth sports level about how sports activities can resume safely in oregon boyle goes on to say, quote, the current recommendation we have received from health experts is that it is not yet safe for oregon's youth to return to participating in contact sports, end quote.

It's a difficult risk assessment at any level of sport for health experts.

(take dr. ryan key) dr. ryan norton says, "all it takes is one or two cases to potentially cause an outbreak within that team and that jeopardizes the season."

(topic key) some pro sports are talking of playing in a sort of bubble and power 5 colleges like oregon plan to give covid-19 antibody test athletes on a weekly basis.

Rick dyer says, "there's going to be exceptions made at the college and pro level.

And so my question was of course, or is if it can be made safe at those levels, it can be done safely at any level."

But it's not a plan that doctor norton, who works closely with high school athletics, thinks can be replicated.

Dr. ryan norton says, "one is there's a cost to the test and then there's the utilization of those tests and potentially taking away from the healthcare system or the state of oregon who may need those tests for symptomatic people, right?

So that's one part of why testing for every high school athlete just may not be practical."

Another reason is at the high school level, you don't have the same control over athletes and facilities that you would at college and pro levels.

But for dyer and the nearly 12,000 signees of the 'let them play' petition, there is still more to look at.

Rick dyer says, "this plan and any sort