PAGE A10, KEIZERTIMES, JUNE 26, 2020
KEIZERTIMES.COM
“Let Them Play” group fi ghts for youth sports
is when local facilities will
BY MATT RAWLINGS
open back up.
Of the Keizertimes
Youth sports, where phys-
Over the last three-and-
a-half months, virtually all ical contact is limited, have
sports have been put on been able to start competi-
hold due to the spread of tion back up under the state’s
phase two guidelines — there
COVID-19.
While professional and were a small number of youth
college sports have a strategy baseball and softball games
on a return to action, parents taking place in Oregon over
all over the state have been Father’s Day weekend. How-
pleading with government ever, sports that involve par-
offi cials to let all youth ath- ticipants coming into bodily
letes return to playing their contact are prohibited under
phase two re-
favorite sports.
strictions.
A
peti-
Brown has
tion, intend- “ It’s a good way
also stated that
ed to catch
phase two will
the attention to get different
of Gov. Kate voices out there be in effect
until a reli-
Brown, called
able treatment
“Let
Them on behalf of
or
vaccine
Play!
Ore-
kids. Kids need
is
available,
gonians
for
which means
Athletes” has that sports out-
that
sports,
received more
such as foot-
than 18,000 let to get them
ball, wouldn’t
s i g n a t u r e s back to normal
be able to
and has more
take place this
than 25,000 life.”
fall — basket-
Facebook
— Kyle Hughes,
ball, wrestling,
members. The
MYF President
lacrosse and
purpose
of
cheerleading
the petition is
also fall into
to urge Gov.
Brown to prioritize youth this category, according to
and high school sports across the Oregon Health Author-
ity.
the state.
This did not sit well with
The “Let Them Play”
group also organized a rally Jackson County Commis-
outside of the state capitol on sioner Rick Dyer and several
parents in Southern Oregon
Sunday, June 14.
McNary Youth Foot- — who are responsible for
ball (MYF) President Kyle getting the petition started.
“There is no question that
Hughes has been a big advo-
cate for the “Let Them Play” this situation will lead to nu-
movement, and even orga- merous adverse effects to our
nized a two-day phone call children’s physical and men-
campaign to Gov. Brown’s tal health, attendance and
performance in school, per-
offi ce.
“It’s a good way to get sonal and professional growth
different voices out there on and too many more negative
behalf of kids. Kids need that consequences to mention. It
sports outlet to get them back will also create far-reaching
ripple effects that will be felt
to normal life,” Hughes said.
The vast majority of the in Oregon for many years.
state is in the phase two re- With the world in the state
opening process, which it is in currently, it is more
means that many kids have imperative than ever to en-
been allowed to participate in sure our kids are able to be
involved in these positive and
athletic-related activities.
Earlier in June, the OSAA constructive activities,” the
released their second phase petition says on their website,
of guidance for high school letthemplayoregon.com
Members of the “Let
athletics, which allows stu-
dent-athletes to come back Them Play” group also be-
to their school facilities and lieve that college and profes-
participate in modifi ed work- sional athletes in the state are
outs, conditioning and indi- getting preferential treatment
vidual drills — Salem-Keizer — Brown has allowed Ore-
prep athletes aren’t allowed to gon college athletes to return
participate until July 1, which to their facilities to begin
File
Pierce Walker runs to daylight in a McNary Youth Football eighth grade game from last season. McNary Youth Football has been
involved with the “Let Them Play” campaign for the last few weeks.
voluntary workouts. Since
June 1, when the NCAA
began permitting voluntary
workouts on college cam-
puses, more more than 100
positive COVID-19 cases
have affected collegiate ath-
letes throughout the country.
However, the NCAA is still
preparing to play games this
fall, even if a vaccine or cure
isn’t found.
“It was also reported that
there will be exceptions
made for college and pro
sports teams to play. This not
only acknowledges the fact
that these activities can be
engaged in safely, it creates an
unacceptable disparity that
needs to be rectifi ed. Our
kids need to be represented
fairly in this decision and a
plan to allow them to engage
in their activities needs to be
developed and adopted,” the
petition says.
“There are thousands of
concerned parents, teachers,
coaches, athletes and other
citizens ready to be a part of
that solution. We need swift
and decisive action on this
immediately so our kids can
begin to engage in their fall
sports programs without un-
necessary delays.”
As of Tuesday, June 22,
there have been 703 cases of
COVID-19 among residents
ages 0-19 — a group that
represents 23 percent of Or-
egon’s population. However,
there have been no deaths
and only 11 hospitalizations.
Hughes knows that having
football, and other sports, re-
turn to normalcy right now
isn’t realistic. He just wants
more transparency from the
Governor.
“I feel like the line just
keeps adjusting. It would
be nice to know what the
thought process is behind
making these restrictions,”
Hughes said.
Earlier this month, MYF
started holding voluntary
workouts at the grass fi elds at
Keizer Little League.
The workouts mostly con-
sist of speed and agility drills,
but Hughes did mention
that he’s is able to split kids
in multiple groups to work
on quarterback and receiver
drills. There is one football in
each group, which is cleaned
and sanitized after every rep-
etition.
“We’re just trying to get
kids out of the house and
give them the ability to see
their friends and stay in
shape,” Hughes said. “But we
are also doing what we need
to do to stay safe.”
Hughes admitted that he
isn’t concerned about the
outbreaks at different col-
leges. But while he and the
“Let Them Play” group fi ght
for making fall sports hap-
pen, Hughes wants to make
sure his players are being in-
credibly cautious during their
workouts.
“It doesn’t worry me be-
ing out there. We take every
precaution we can. Because
(COVID-19) may not effect
one of our kids, but it could
effect someone’s parents or
grandparents. If any of our
kids are feeling any symp-
toms whatsoever, they need
to stay home,” Hughes said.
Volcanoes hosting 13th
annual patriotic tribute
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Although there won't be
baseball at Volcanoes Stadium
this Independence Day due
to COVID-19, the Volcanoes
are still planning their annual
patriotic tribute with a drive-
in celebration that will feature
recognition of military heroes,
swearing-in of members to the
armed services, a fallen warrior
memorial and many tributes to
those who have defended our
country with multiple deploy-
ments.
A concert by JT & The
Tourists will precede the patri-
otic ceremony.
The night will conclude
with a fi reworks show, pre-
sented by McDonalds and sup-
ported by the Volcanoes’ new
beverage partner Coca-Cola.
“In light of all that is going
on, we feel it is vital to con-
tinue this great tradition and
are adding a concert to help
lift the spirits of all who will
attend,” said Volcanoes CEO
Mickey Walker.
Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
The concert is scheduled to
take place from 6-8 p.m. fol-
lowed by the patriotic trib-
ute from 8 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
The fi reworks show will begin
around 10 p.m.
There will be a limited
number of tickets available —
must be purchased in advance
of the event online at www.
volcanoesbaseball.com.
The admission is $20 per
carload. Social distancing pro-
tocols are expected to be fol-
lowed.