Initial guidance was given Friday from Gov. Andy Beshear on how and when youth sports could resume using a phased approach, and local leagues are currently developing plans regarding what that will look like in Owensboro and Daviess County.
According to the state’s guidance (found here in full), low-touch sports such as baseball and swimming can begin practicing in groups of 10 or less on June 15. They can begin competition with up to 50 spectators as early as June 29.
High-touch sports such as football, soccer, volleyball and basketball can begin fitness activities and skill training in groups of 10 or less on June 15. They can begin practicing with up to 50 players that are subdivided into groups of 10 or less on June 29. No start date for competition has been announced.
However, both the City of Owensboro and Daviess County Fiscal Court have previously announced their respective parks would not reopen until June 22.
Local league and park representatives on Tuesday said that this week will be spent reviewing the situation, and more definite plans should be in place by the weekend on when to reopen facilities and begin practices.
For clarification, the guidance from Beshear classifies sports and activities as follows:
- Low-touch, outdoor — track and field, biking, tennis, golf, mini-golf, horseback riding, cross country, and baseball/softball/T-ball.
- Low touch, indoor — gymnastics, swimming, diving, bowling, solo-dance/solo-ballet, tap-dance, and archery.
- High touch, indoor — karate/martial arts, basketball, cheerleading, tandem or team dance, ice hockey, volleyball, fencing and wrestling
- High touch, outdoor — football, soccer, lacrosse, flag football and field hockey.
Practices allow for groups of 10 players or fewer with a limit of one coach per group. Also according to the guidance, “Multiple groups may practice but must adhere to the social distancing guidelines … . Any individual not essential for the conduct of these practices should not attend.”
The guidance also goes into great detail about requirements for social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting, screening and illness, and training and safety.
Travel outside the “local community” for competition or scrimmages — including for club and all-star teams — is still not allowed.
The guidance did not address high school sports. Those athletes and coaches will receive their own guidelines from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Representatives for youth baseball and softball leagues in the City and County said they plan to begin practicing as soon as they can, but they don’t know yet if that date will be June 15 or June 22. They also expect to have some semblance of a season, but it’s possible that the start date could continue to get pushed into late summer.
Similarly, youth hockey must wait and see when the Edge Ice Center reopens to know when they can begin indoor practices.
Both youth football organizations — Owensboro Daviess County and Kids Football League — are currently preparing to move forward with their seasons as planned. As they have later start dates, their seasons have not yet been affected. However, everything will be contingent on when a date is announced allowing football to begin competition.
Owensboro United Soccer is planning to resume practices and competition when they are allowed to do so, while Owensboro Daviess County Youth Soccer Association cancelled their spring season and is hoping to return in the fall.
More information from the City and County, as well as from each league, is expected to be announced later this week.
