Outdoor youth and adult recreational games will resume under new rules

The California Department of Public Health released new guidance Friday morning that will allow all outdoor youth and adult recreational sports in counties with low coronavirus case rates.

The path is cleared for youth baseball, softball and soccer to return to much of California and most of the Bay Area as early as Friday, when the new guidelines take effect.

The state had previously allowed only low-contact outdoor sports in counties that were in the purple (widespread) tier of the reopening system. Moderate-contact outdoor sports were permitted in the red (substantial) tier and high-contact outdoor sports in the orange (moderate) tier.

Currently, 27 of the state’s 58 counties meet the criteria to return to competition, including all the Bay Area’s counties except for Solano and Contra Costa. In order to allow play, counties must see their case rate at 14 or lower per 100,000 residents.

“Youth sports are important to our children’s physical and mental health, and our public health approach has worked to balance those benefits against COVID-19 risks,” director Dr. Tomás Aragón said in a release announcing the easing of restrictions.

Parents of underage players in high- and moderate-contact sports must sign an informed consent form to confirm they understand that participation brings risks, according to the guidelines.

The new directive does not insist players wear masks during a competition. But it said that coaches and observers must wear face coverings while players should use masks to the extent that it is possible. Players will also be required to wear masks on the sidelines.

Teams will not be allowed to cross state borders for games, something many have been doing in soccer, baseball and water polo, according to Bay Area youth coaches. Public health officials cited outbreaks that have occurred at out-ofstate events as the reason to limit travel.

The guidance did not make any changes to thresholds for indoor sports, which face more stringent requirements because of the increased risk of transmission inside confined areas. Only low-contact indoor sports are currently allowed in the orange tier, while moderate- and high-contact sports such as basketball, volleyball and wrestling are limited to the yellow tier, which requires a case rate of fewer than 1 per 100,000 residents.