For the last six months, we have adjusted to a world where the words pandemic and social distance are part of our daily conversation. As a small business owner, I must admit there were a lot of sleepless nights early on. And, if I am honest, there still are. 

Despite the uncertainty, there have been some bright spots during the pandemic. Our families are closer, more people are going outdoors and we, as a community, better appreciate what we had prior to COVID-19. Now, after a long spring and summer of seclusion, businesses, school and even bars have reopened. Local middle and high school athletics, college athletics and intramural sports are also back in action. 

So why are we denying our children the opportunity to play recreational sports at city and county parks when they have lost so much this year already? 

More: City recommending fall sports stay on hold due to coronavirus

Youth sports are a necessary outlet – mentally and physically – for our children to cope with a world that is beyond their control. So much is still unknown about COVID-19, but the science relating to the mental health benefits of youth sports is undeniable. My fear, like that of many other parents, is that we will not understand the effects of the social isolation our children have experienced until it is too late to recover and give them a healthy future.

While nothing about this pandemic has been easy and our elected officials must continue to make tough decisions on our behalf, Leon County will soon be one of very few Florida counties not participating in youth sports.

More than 85% of counties are successfully playing sports through smart pandemic safety plans and reliance on parents, coaches, league leadership and volunteers to execute those plans. Even Miami-Dade, a county much-harder hit by COVID-19 cases, is moving into phase two recovery that includes the beginning of youth sports for their residents. 

It is possible to allow youth sports to commence and be played safely. Since May, I have attended numerous baseball tournaments in cities like Orlando, Jacksonville, Birmingham and Atlanta that were once considered pandemic “hot spots.” These tournaments were well-organized with clear safety plans and expectations of every player, volunteer and spectator. By inviting families to participate and strictly adhere to safety protocols, this sector of sports has thrived and children have regained some normalcy.

Tallahassee parents were given the choice to send their children back to school. Many chose in-person instruction because the health benefits to their children outweighed the risks. We ask that City and County leaders again be willing to come together with our children, families and volunteer base to get our kids back on the fields as we work together to maintain a safe environment for everyone.  

Our request is simple, though the decision may not be easy: Give families a choice and a chance to show how participation in youth recreation programs can be managed responsibly and safely for everyone. 

Kip West is the owner of Elite Supporting Goods. He serves on the boards for Tallahassee Babe Ruth Baseball and Levy Park APL. He is also the director of the Tallahassee Heat Baseball. 

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