Local sports getting kick started

With the crack of a bat or a kick of the ball, summer sports are starting to emerge in Lethbridge.

As Lethbridge’s COVID-19 relaunch continues with the opening of venues around the city, athletes have also received the green light to get active in their respective sports once again in accordance with Alberta Health Services standards.

“Basically each group is allowed to open up under the guidance that is in place,” said Luke Palmer, emergency preparedness manager of the City of Lethbridge. “So we let them do their own planning. We just review, acknowledge and approve and then it is between the sports groups and the province to manage anything else that might come in.”

On Wednesday, the Lethbridge Soccer Association held evaluation camps for its U13 and U15 age groups with city fields open.

Meanwhile, the Lethbridge Lacrosse Association — partnered with Alpha Lax — begins their Return to Activity 4 on 4 session starting Thursday with U10 and junior age groups at Orion Sports Centre. The sessions run until Aug. 23.

On the ball diamond, Lethbridge Little League had games scheduled with action resuming next week.

Palmer said the guidelines continue to change, but currently everything is permissible.

“They’re calling them cohorts,” he said. “So you can have these mini-leagues that are comprised of 50 athletes and that’s a combination of all the teams. So however you want to break it up. So if you want to have five teams of 10 or something else depending on the sport you play, that’s how you can do it. That group moves around together.”

However, the groups are encouraged to keep it local.

“In the city, they are still not recommending anything outside of your home jurisdiction,” said Palmer. “Additionally, you can have at least 200 spectators for the outdoor sports and 100 for the indoor that can come in and view these mini leagues or cohorts.”