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The impact of the pandemic is obviously immense.
For youth sports alone, the mental, physical & emotional toll is staggering.
Yet, the position CIF & their member schools have been forced into by the @CAPublicHealth rules further highlights the gross inequity in our system 1/
For youth sports alone, the mental, physical & emotional toll is staggering.
Yet, the position CIF & their member schools have been forced into by the @CAPublicHealth rules further highlights the gross inequity in our system 1/
Good teachers, coaches & leaders of any kind know you shouldn’t have rules you can’t enforce.
Doing so leads to derision and an imbalance that quickly becomes caustic.
And that’s exactly what’s happened with the guidelines surrounding youth sport cohort participation.
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Doing so leads to derision and an imbalance that quickly becomes caustic.
And that’s exactly what’s happened with the guidelines surrounding youth sport cohort participation.
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We should be listening to science. We should be looking at numbers and putting the safety of our communities first.
If it’s shown to be safe in specific conditions then we should follow those and proceed.
If it’s not safe then have some consequences & put a halt to it.
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If it’s shown to be safe in specific conditions then we should follow those and proceed.
If it’s not safe then have some consequences & put a halt to it.
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What we can’t continue to do is implement guidelines that have a significantly greater negative impact on our already struggling populations.
The @CAPublicHealth guidance does just that.
This is just one of a number of issues, but a huge one that’s not being addressed.
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The @CAPublicHealth guidance does just that.
This is just one of a number of issues, but a huge one that’s not being addressed.
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By saying kids can only be a part of one cohort per season, the CDPH forced CIF to modify its rules. As an entity serving education-based athletics, CIF had no choice but to make the following change.
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To follow the rules an athlete must choose between their high school & club.
In a normal year, that’s fine. We all must make choices.
High schools must, & will, follow the youth sport guidance as to when they play, yet clubs are playing without consequence. 6/
In a normal year, that’s fine. We all must make choices.
High schools must, & will, follow the youth sport guidance as to when they play, yet clubs are playing without consequence. 6/
But, this isn’t about the clubs. If no one is willing to enforce a rule there will be plenty who will then only view it as a suggestion & make their own choice.
This is about the dichotomy that’s been created between those with the means to join a club and those who cannot.
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This is about the dichotomy that’s been created between those with the means to join a club and those who cannot.
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If a kid can join a club, they are functioning outside of CIF’s purview. As there are no consequences being enforced, this will only continue. And those that have the means will have the opportunity to cross state lines or play in private facilities disregarding the CDPH.
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But if the only option, due to any # of factors impacting a family, is to utilize the free programs provided by public schools then they are having restrictions enforced upon them that others do not have solely because they cannot afford it.
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In our communities the same socioeconomic groups being hit hardest by Covid illness are those not able to afford club travel. So, our same families most often dealing with illness and economic hardship are having their children told they can’t take part in a healthy outlet.
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How is this OK? Again, if the facts don’t support playing then we shouldn’t play. I’m not an expert there & gladly defer to those who are.
I would say I’m an expert on the positive impact being on a team has on children and families. Positives that are being sorely missed.
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I would say I’m an expert on the positive impact being on a team has on children and families. Positives that are being sorely missed.
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We have an at-risk segment of our population facing a surge in suicide, dramatically faltering grades & serious depression.
Our answer should not be to limit their ability to take part in something good; it should be to work like crazy to find a safe way to make it happen.
12/12.
Our answer should not be to limit their ability to take part in something good; it should be to work like crazy to find a safe way to make it happen.
12/12.
