Health Issues

Youth Sports Participation During COVID-19: A Safety Checklist

If your child is participating in sports during the COVID-19 pandemic, remember these steps to help keep players, coaches and families safe.

Before the sports season starts:

☐	Check to make sure sports and recreation activities are approved by your local and state government.
☐	Understand the new safety rules and expectations for participation during COVID-19 and talk about them with your child.
☐	Each child should have their own cloth face covering, hand sanitizer, towel, water bottle, and tissues labeled with their names.
☐	All youth athletes should have an up-to-date sports physical before participating.

Prior to practice or games:

☐	Athletes should stay home from practice or game if they're feeling sick or have a fever.
☐	Wash hands before arriving, or use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren't available.
☐	Bring labeled (with name) personal sports equipment, water bottle, towel, tissues, hand sanitizer, and cloth face covering.
☐	Stay in the car or assigned school location until the coach is ready to start practice
☐	Avoid gathering in groups before practice, maintain social distance and wear a cloth face covering.

If an athlete has COVID-19:

☐	Anyone who has a history of COVID-19 should get their doctor's permission before they return to exercise or sports.
☐	A child who has had a positive test for COVID-19 should have a gradual return to physical activity.
☐	Before returning to activity, children should be screened by their doctor for heart symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, or fainting.
☐	Anyone without symptoms requires a minimum 2-week resting period without exercise or competition.
☐	An athlete with symptoms should not exercise or compete for at least 2 to 4 weeks.
☐	A child with a positive heart screening may need an EKG.
☐	Children who were very sick from COVID-19 must be treated as though they have an inflamed heart muscle (myocarditis) and not exercise or compete for 3 to 6 months. A pediatric cardiologist should examine these children before they are allowed to return to exercise or competition.

During sports practice or games:

☐	Whenever possible, athletes should maintain 6-8 feet of physical distance during drills and conditioning.
☐	When possible and safe, athletes should each wear cloth face covering--especially on the sideline, in dugouts, and during team chats. However, masks should not be worn during: active exercise. water sports. sports where face coverings could get caught on equipment or accidentally cover eyes.
☐	Avoid these behaviors: Huddles, high-fives, fist bumps, handshakes, etc. Sharing food or drink with teammates. Cheering, chanting, or singing when closer than 6-8 feet from others. Spitting or blowing nose without a tissue.
☐	Store personal equipment 6-8 feet away from other teammates' equipment.
☐	Minimize sharing sports equipment when possible.
☐	Sanitize hands before and after using shared equipment such as balls, bats and sticks.
☐	Tell a coach if you are not feeling well and leave practice or game with parent or caregiver.

After sports practice or games:

☐	Sanitize or wash hands.
☐	Wash cloth face coverings, towel and practices clothes or uniform.
☐	Clean personal sports equipment and water bottle.

Remember

Talk with your child's pediatrician if you have any questions about youth sports participation safety based on COVID-19 in your community and your child's health.

More Information

Along with the American Academy of Pediatrics, this information was developed jointly by:

Last Updated: 9/18/2020

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.