SHAWNEE, Kan. — As the state of Kansas moves into Phase Two of its reopening plan, youth sports will be allowed to resume on Friday while following specific state guidelines.
“We were a little worried with the creation of Phase 1.5 of what this meant," said Tori Blake, Director of Operations for Midwest Sports Productions, "and that was actually what brought us to the Capitol yesterday to begin with."
Members of Midwest Sports Productions in Shawnee met with Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Tuesday to get a better idea of what restrictions will look like. Athletes can resume practices and games on Friday, but within their own county.
Blake told 41 Action News the one thing MSP hopes for is consistency from the governor.
“It is difficult to say that you can only stay within a county to play, but you can travel across to Wyandotte County, for example, to go shopping or eat at a restaurant and things like that, so just looking for some consistency across the board," said Blake.
But parents like Angela Handy told 41 Action News they feel it's a step forward.
“I definitely would like to see a way that we can do it to where it’s safe for our kids, but able to still get them out on a field where they’re used to playing and kind of back to a little bit of a normal life," Handy said.
Handy, a mother of four, said that after weeks off, her children are excited to start practicing again.
“As a mom, I just want for their mental health, the physical benefits and the mental benefits, just to get back into what I would say is our normal life of being a mom of four very active kids," Handy said.
Still, sports will look different under the Phase Two restrictions.
For softball and baseball, the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association said fans will be required to social distance and no more than 15 can gather. Practices should be scheduled with 15 minutes in between and games scheduled with 30 minutes between.
Disinfecting stations also will be available, and teams must wipe down equipment, bleachers and dugouts.
Umpires will be required to wear a mask, and each batter and base runner is encouraged to do the same.
The team up to bat is allowed to have six people in the dugout at a time, while social distancing. The rest of the team must be outside the field or in the stands.
“Honestly, sport just may not be worth it for a lot of people,” Blake said, “and we are definitely understanding and respecting of that, not trying to push anybody out before they want to be there.”
As Kansas reopens, many restrictions will phase out. However, high fives and handshakes will not be allowed moving forward.
