SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Sunday the resumption of low-risk youth sports this summer. This will be part of Phase 3 and youth sports can begin on July 6. Little Leagues in Central New York are already preparing.
Jim Sinopoli, president of Jamesville-Dewitt Little League, said he is looking forward for practice to begin. Although wearing masks while playing is not required, he said he is considering making them mandatory.
“I’m going to take the approach that I think that they should wear them on the field,” said Sinopoli. “Let’s say you get on base, and the first baseman is 6 inches from you. I mean you have to. What does it hurt to have a face mask on when you’re playing. For the kids sake I think it’s worth that added on inconvenience.
Cuomo said in his press meeting “young people can participate in sports” and “two spectators per child” will be allowed. However this raises questions on what exact guidelines will be emplaced. For example, social distancing between the kids and their spectators is another concern for Sinopoli.
“We normally have 12 kids on a team,” said Sinopoli. “You can only have three kids in the dugout at a time. So that means nine of them have to go sit on the bleachers where the parents normally sit if you even have bleachers. The parents have to be only two spectators per kid. But you add up all those numbers, it’s 75 to 80 people attending the game.”
The youth sports allowed in Phase 3 after July 6 include baseball, softball, gymnastics, field hockey and cross country.
Even with all of these concerns, Sinopoli is considering the possibility of having a short season. He said the league might start its season around August 17, and last to the end of September.
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