Guidelines, or rules, restricting youth sports in St. Louis County are too restrictive and complex, according to opponents of those announced by Executive Sam Page this week.
The county leader announced Wednesday restrictions for high schoolers on high-contact sports such as football and basketball, but allowing them to practice. Those over age14 will not be able to take part in games or competitions.
Players younger than 14 will be allowed to participate in "moderate-frequency" contact sports against other teams. These include baseball, cheerleading, softball, soccer, field hockey and volleyball.
"These recommendations are coming forth based on what's best to protect the health and welfare of teenagers, who are currently having a rate of COVID transmission that is not acceptable," Page said in a statement. "It puts them at risk, and it puts their families at risk."
The city of St. Louis, which had barred all youth sports, also revealed new guidelines, or rules, Wednesday, allowing a number to restart.
Teams involved in moderate and high-frequency contact sports are allowed to resume if the groups are of 11 or fewer. Games and tournaments are still not allowed. For low-frequency contact sports, practices are allowed, as are competitions with other teams in the region, though tournaments are still not allowed.
Elected representatives who support a more widespread resumption of youth sports believe the guidelines are too complex and believe the blanket ban on competition for older teens is not the right approach. They are reporting that their constituents are not satisfied with the concessions made by Page.
Some families have opted to travel to play in leagues in nearby counties but that does address the inability of high school players to participate in competitions.
Councilman Mark Harder (R-Distric 7) said: "My position has been that we need to let the sports teams, coaches, superintendents of the schools to decide how to handle youth sports and not rely on the county executive to make decisions across the full county."
Harder said local entities are best placed to know how to safely resume sports. While the announcements from the executive are described as guidelines, Harder said the fear of lawsuits means they are de facto rules.
Some parents and their children protested against the restrictions outside Page's home Sunday.