MOCO Executive Order No. 087-20 - Effective Date 8/5/2020

[Anonymous]

Fox 5 covered this yesterday. Let’s hope the council is seriously reconsidering the classification and will make a change:

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/montgomery-county-soccer-players-confront-possibility-of-fall-without-soccer

[Anonymous]

I think Montgomery County is the adult in the room and is making the correct decision for all these clubs, parents and kids. The solution to shut down all complaining is to add more sports like Lacrosse and Indoor Volleyball to the high risk list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Montgomery County is the adult in the room and is making the correct decision for all these clubs, parents and kids. The solution to shut down all complaining is to add more sports like Lacrosse and Indoor Volleyball to the high risk list.

I don't think so. Kids are made to suffer over and over with these policies. Adults pretty much get to do whatever they want, while teachers take school away from kids, counties take sports and activities away from kids, and on and on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Montgomery County is the adult in the room and is making the correct decision for all these clubs, parents and kids. The solution to shut down all complaining is to add more sports like Lacrosse and Indoor Volleyball to the high risk list.

You could be right. I'm not sure, because I'm not an expert in public health. I have tried to find information about whether COVID transmission is occurring through outdoor sports, as opposed to between sports teams engaged in other indoor activities, and haven't seen much evidence of risk from the sport alone. Travel, weight lifting, and socializing off the field is a different story.

Even if you are right, and Montgomery County is the adult in the room, what is the point of keeping county kids off the field when play continues everywhere else? I don't see that the benefit in terms of reducing spread outweighs the significant burden on kids, especially because county residents can play on fields outside of the county.

If youth sports are significantly contributing to community spread, then full play should be prohibited everywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Montgomery County is the adult in the room and is making the correct decision for all these clubs, parents and kids. The solution to shut down all complaining is to add more sports like Lacrosse and Indoor Volleyball to the high risk list.

You could be right. I'm not sure, because I'm not an expert in public health. I have tried to find information about whether COVID transmission is occurring through outdoor sports, as opposed to between sports teams engaged in other indoor activities, and haven't seen much evidence of risk from the sport alone. Travel, weight lifting, and socializing off the field is a different story.

Even if you are right, and Montgomery County is the adult in the room, what is the point of keeping county kids off the field when play continues everywhere else? I don't see that the benefit in terms of reducing spread outweighs the significant burden on kids, especially because county residents can play on fields outside of the county.

If youth sports are significantly contributing to community spread, then full play should be prohibited everywhere.

PP here. I am also adding the point that I am talking about youth sports, not adult sports. As adults, we can find other outlets for our physical activity needs. However, the benefits associated with youth sports, including physical activity, accepting coaching, working as a team, resiliency, etc. are more significant when we are talking about developing minds and bodies,

That's what makes me so sad about the situation we are in. Adults can't or won't delay any gratification, and it is young people who are suffering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think Montgomery County is the adult in the room and is making the correct decision for all these clubs, parents and kids. The solution to shut down all complaining is to add more sports like Lacrosse and Indoor Volleyball to the high risk list.

As disappointing as it is, I agree. Remember, we haven't had widespread group activities on the scale of DC-area youth sports since March. Children may be unlikely to have severe symptoms. But, seriously: all things being equal there's no good reason, let alone empirical evidence, to think that bringing thousands of kids together for multiple practices and games each week won't exacerbate the prevalence, among both children and adults. We, as a country, didn't discipline ourselves in May, June, and July in order to suppress the spread sufficiently. Throwing caution to the wind now, because we're bored and kids are stir-crazy, is just rolling the dice, at best, and head-in-the-sand, at worst. And, yes, I'm sensitive to the fact that some kids have special needs that soccer serves well. I feel for you. But we're talking about a gd pandemic. Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Spain, and even Italy reported fewer than 100 deaths over the last week. The US? More than 7,000. The answer is not to assail cautious local officials about our individual pet causes. The answer is to demand real leadership from our state and federal authorities and experts.

The war analogy is ridiculous coming out of Trump's mouth, given that he wields it only for self-aggrandizement. But it's not completely inapt. What we need is nation-wide coordination and a temporary, but sustained, re-ordering of priorities. And youth sports, are much as my kid and I miss them, and despite all the many, indisputable benefits, are low on that list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Montgomery County is the adult in the room and is making the correct decision for all these clubs, parents and kids. The solution to shut down all complaining is to add more sports like Lacrosse and Indoor Volleyball to the high risk list.

As disappointing as it is, I agree. Remember, we haven't had widespread group activities on the scale of DC-area youth sports since March. Children may be unlikely to have severe symptoms. But, seriously: all things being equal there's no good reason, let alone empirical evidence, to think that bringing thousands of kids together for multiple practices and games each week won't exacerbate the prevalence, among both children and adults. We, as a country, didn't discipline ourselves in May, June, and July in order to suppress the spread sufficiently. Throwing caution to the wind now, because we're bored and kids are stir-crazy, is just rolling the dice, at best, and head-in-the-sand, at worst. And, yes, I'm sensitive to the fact that some kids have special needs that soccer serves well. I feel for you. But we're talking about a gd pandemic. Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Spain, and even Italy reported fewer than 100 deaths over the last week. The US? More than 7,000. The answer is not to assail cautious local officials about our individual pet causes. The answer is to demand real leadership from our state and federal authorities and experts.

The war analogy is ridiculous coming out of Trump's mouth, given that he wields it only for self-aggrandizement. But it's not completely inapt. What we need is nation-wide coordination and a temporary, but sustained, re-ordering of priorities. And youth sports, are much as my kid and I miss them, and despite all the many, indisputable benefits, are low on that list.

+1. Well said. My U13 is anxiously awaiting for soccer to start again but even she understands the risks. So she practices everyday at home. She knows that if she gets it, our entire family will be infected too.

Unfortunately, there are at least a couple FaceBook groups trying to get MoCo to change soccer from high risk to medium risk. It would be much more productive if they focused on getting everyone to wear masks and social distance instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:+1. Well said. My U13 is anxiously awaiting for soccer to start again but even she understands the risks. So she practices everyday at home. She knows that if she gets it, our entire family will be infected too.

Good on your kid for understanding the stakes and the priorities. And for having the discipline to work within them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Montgomery County is the adult in the room and is making the correct decision for all these clubs, parents and kids. The solution to shut down all complaining is to add more sports like Lacrosse and Indoor Volleyball to the high risk list.

As disappointing as it is, I agree. Remember, we haven't had widespread group activities on the scale of DC-area youth sports since March. Children may be unlikely to have severe symptoms. But, seriously: all things being equal there's no good reason, let alone empirical evidence, to think that bringing thousands of kids together for multiple practices and games each week won't exacerbate the prevalence, among both children and adults. We, as a country, didn't discipline ourselves in May, June, and July in order to suppress the spread sufficiently. Throwing caution to the wind now, because we're bored and kids are stir-crazy, is just rolling the dice, at best, and head-in-the-sand, at worst. And, yes, I'm sensitive to the fact that some kids have special needs that soccer serves well. I feel for you. But we're talking about a gd pandemic. Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Spain, and even Italy reported fewer than 100 deaths over the last week. The US? More than 7,000. The answer is not to assail cautious local officials about our individual pet causes. The answer is to demand real leadership from our state and federal authorities and experts.

The war analogy is ridiculous coming out of Trump's mouth, given that he wields it only for self-aggrandizement. But it's not completely inapt. What we need is nation-wide coordination and a temporary, but sustained, re-ordering of priorities. And youth sports, are much as my kid and I miss them, and despite all the many, indisputable benefits, are low on that list.

+1. Well said. My U13 is anxiously awaiting for soccer to start again but even she understands the risks. So she practices everyday at home. She knows that if she gets it, our entire family will be infected too.

Unfortunately, there are at least a couple FaceBook groups trying to get MoCo to change soccer from high risk to medium risk. It would be much more productive if they focused on getting everyone to wear masks and social distance instead.

Good to hear, hopefully those particular FB groups grow in number and are successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think Montgomery County is the adult in the room and is making the correct decision for all these clubs, parents and kids. The solution to shut down all complaining is to add more sports like Lacrosse and Indoor Volleyball to the high risk list.

As disappointing as it is, I agree. Remember, we haven't had widespread group activities on the scale of DC-area youth sports since March. Children may be unlikely to have severe symptoms. But, seriously: all things being equal there's no good reason, let alone empirical evidence, to think that bringing thousands of kids together for multiple practices and games each week won't exacerbate the prevalence, among both children and adults. We, as a country, didn't discipline ourselves in May, June, and July in order to suppress the spread sufficiently. Throwing caution to the wind now, because we're bored and kids are stir-crazy, is just rolling the dice, at best, and head-in-the-sand, at worst. And, yes, I'm sensitive to the fact that some kids have special needs that soccer serves well. I feel for you. But we're talking about a gd pandemic. Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Japan, Spain, and even Italy reported fewer than 100 deaths over the last week. The US? More than 7,000. The answer is not to assail cautious local officials about our individual pet causes. The answer is to demand real leadership from our state and federal authorities and experts.

The war analogy is ridiculous coming out of Trump's mouth, given that he wields it only for self-aggrandizement. But it's not completely inapt. What we need is nation-wide coordination and a temporary, but sustained, re-ordering of priorities. And youth sports, are much as my kid and I miss them, and despite all the many, indisputable benefits, are low on that list.

+1. Well said. My U13 is anxiously awaiting for soccer to start again but even she understands the risks. So she practices everyday at home. She knows that if she gets it, our entire family will be infected too.

Unfortunately, there are at least a couple FaceBook groups trying to get MoCo to change soccer from high risk to medium risk. It would be much more productive if they focused on getting everyone to wear masks and social distance instead.

Good to hear, hopefully those particular FB groups grow in number and are successful.

People always get their priorities wrong and loves to preach that their way is correct. Undoubtedly, allowing soccer will surely get more people infected. Then these same people will complain why MoCo/MCPS does allow F2F schooling in the Spring.

[Anonymous]

I think what is so frustrating is that we all feel like we are making great sacrifices for the public good while others are not. I’m glad soccer can continue to practice - without contact and socially distant. At least the kids have that. I guess the games are somewhere off in the distance ... if the Clubs can stay afloat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the NCAA return to sports guidelines reclassified soccer as "high risk" recently, which affected a number of state guidelines as they were relying on that designation.

https://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/resocialization-collegiate-sport-developing-standards-practice-and-competition

I hope this isn’t bevause of the Men’s soccer players at Louisville. Because based on news reports, it seems clear that they contracted the virus at a party (with Womens soccer, volleyball etc). They made some bad choices and hopefully others will learn from that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the NCAA return to sports guidelines reclassified soccer as "high risk" recently, which affected a number of state guidelines as they were relying on that designation.

https://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/resocialization-collegiate-sport-developing-standards-practice-and-competition

I hope this isn’t bevause of the Men’s soccer players at Louisville. Because based on news reports, it seems clear that they contracted the virus at a party (with Womens soccer, volleyball etc). They made some bad choices and hopefully others will learn from that.

No. It happened before that incident.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the NCAA return to sports guidelines reclassified soccer as "high risk" recently, which affected a number of state guidelines as they were relying on that designation.

https://www.ncaa.org/sport-science-institute/resocialization-collegiate-sport-developing-standards-practice-and-competition

I hope this isn’t bevause of the Men’s soccer players at Louisville. Because based on news reports, it seems clear that they contracted the virus at a party (with Womens soccer, volleyball etc). They made some bad choices and hopefully others will learn from that.

No. It happened before that incident.

I also don’t think women’s soccer gets enough credit for putting on a month long tournament with zero cases. That’s discipline folks. We can beat this virus together.

https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/nwsl-challenge-cup-from-zero-covid-19-cases-to-a-first-time-champ-heres-what-we-learned-from-the-bubble/

[Anonymous]

What makes the MoCo health commissioner so much smarter than the Maryland Sports Commission that was put together by the governor? The detailed report of that commission states that soccer is a medium risk sport. In so far as soccer is concerned (not getting into that whole lacrosse argument) why is the county yet again redefining something that the state had classified as medium risk? Where is the science and data that shows Covid transmission in soccer specifically? If someone can show the data and science behind making soccer a high risk sport, I am all ears!