Parent Mailbag

What will youth sports restrictions look like in 2021?

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, many parents are trying to navigate on their own what this means for their child playing sports. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

Should kids play indoor sports now, and if so, how?

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, many parents are trying to navigate on their own what this means for their child playing sports. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

Kids and masks: What’s the latest guidance when playing sports?

As many states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

Women’s roller derby offers plan for how youth sports can return

As many states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

Why can’t the U.S. agree about youth sports during COVID-19?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

What should parents do if their child's team ignores local COVID-19 rules?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

Should parents sign COVID-19 waivers for youth sports?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

Can COVID-19 impact young athletes’ hearts long term?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

How safe and effective are face shields for youth sports?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

Is there evidence of COVID-19 outbreaks due to youth sports?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

How should youth sports handle COVID-19 refund requests?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

Is it safe to play youth sports indoors during COVID-19?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

How should youth sports handle artificial turf and COVID-19?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful.

What should return to play for youth basketball look like?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful.

Should kids wear masks at youth sports practices and games?

As some states and communities return to youth sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are trying to navigate this new experience on their own. Project Play is here to help. While some questions are best answered by public health experts based on local conditions, there are guidelines and best practices that are very useful. We will periodically answer youth sports parents’ questions in this Project Play Parent Mailbag.

Should parents talk to coaches who contribute to bad sports experiences?

In this month’s mailbag, the advice comes from Nick Buonocore, founder of The Reformed Sports Parent, whose mission is to restore healthy balance and perspective in youth sports through education and advocacy. Nick played baseball at North Carolina Wesleyan College. He is the father of six and a reformed sports parent and notes, “Living vicariously through your kid’s sports is pretty much the best way to get them to hate playing and resent the hell out of you simultaneously.”

What should parents do when a child starts disliking sports?

In this month’s mailbag, the advice comes from Asia Mape, co-founder of I Love to Watch You Play – a website and newsletter for parents seeking balance and sanity in youth sports. Asia played college basketball at Coastal Carolina but became burned out from having played so much basketball growing up. She has been a producer for Fox Sports, ESPN, TNT, NFL Network and NBC Sports. She has three daughters who play some combination of club soccer, basketball, volleyball and water polo, and takes them to about eight practices a week and tournaments or games most weekends. She often questions if there’s a better way.

Is it OK for parents to talk with coaches about their child’s playing time?

As youth sports becomes more commercialized, parents have become more stressed. Some kids are left behind, missing out on the benefits of sports due to money or ability. Other kids are having poor experiences due to the adults (coaches, parents, league organizers), causing them to quit sports altogether. Parents are left to navigate the confusing and frustrating world of sports on their own. Project Play is here to help.

How to avoid specialization with young kids; how to "unretire" older kids

As youth sports becomes more commercialized, parents have become more stressed. Some kids are left behind, missing out on the benefits of sports due to money or ability. Other kids are having poor experiences due to the adults (coaches, parents, league organizers), causing them to quit sports altogether. Parents are left to navigate the confusing and frustrating world of sports on their own. Project Play is here to help.