Having COVID-19 vaccines available for ages 5 and up is a game changer for many families. Being fully vaccinated can keep kids healthy for fun activities like youth sports.
Even with the omicron variant spreading and a record number of COVID-19 cases in kids, we have proven tools and strategies to protect youth athletes starting or returning to sports and other activities.
Fortunately, fully vaccinated children and teens mostly have not been severely ill from COVID or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). However, any child or teen who recently had COVID-19 should be screened before resuming physical activity, regardless of how minor their symptoms were. This can be through a phone, telemedicine or in-person visit with their pediatrician. During the assessment, your child can be evaluated for any possible effects of COVID-19 on the heart.
Read on for more ways to get your child ready to safely participate in sports and other physical activity.
Before the sports season starts
☐ | Understand the safety rules for participation during COVID-19. Talk about what they mean with your child. |
☐ | Make sure your child has their own
face mask,
hand sanitizer, towel, water bottle, and tissues labeled with their name. |
☐ | Call your pediatrician to make an appointment if your child needs a pre-participation physical evaluation. It's also a good time to catch up on
recommended vaccinations. |
☐
| If your child hasn't been
active during the pandemic, start easing into exercise. (Read on for how to begin return to activity after COVID.) For sports with a lot of running, for example, consider a beginner running program (such as the "Couch to 5K" or "None to Run" apps) a couple months before the season. This can help prevent injuries that sudden, intense activity can cause in growing children. It can also reduce the risk of heat-related illness in kids affected by obesity. |
Prior to practice or games
☐ | Keep your child home from practice or games. Kids should isolate and
test if they have any
symptoms of COVID-19. |
☐ | Remind your child to wash their 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 face mask. |
☐ | Regardless of vaccination status, kids should wear a mask indoors in areas with high transmission of COVID and shared transportation.
|
During sports practice or games
☐ | If the sport is outdoors, athletes who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should be encouraged to wear a face mask on the sidelines and during all group training and competition that involve continually being within 3 feet or less from others. |
☐ | Anyone not fully vaccinated should wear a face mask for all indoor sports training, competition and on the sidelines. Even if they're fully vaccinated, encourage your child to wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces like locker rooms, shared transportation, walking to and from the playing area, between practice drills, and on the sidelines.
However, masks should
not be worn during: Water sports such as swimming, diving and water polo since wet masks may be difficult to breathe through. If a mask becomes soaked with sweat, it should be changed right away. Certain exercises in competitive cheerleading and gymnastics. The goal is to avoid the risk of masks getting caught on equipment, creating a choking hazard or blocking vision. Masks should go back on after these exercises, especially if athletes can't stay 3 feet apart from others inside. Face masks are also discouraged while wrestling, unless an adult coach or official is closely monitoring to ensure the masks don't become a choking hazard.
In addition, exceptions to mask-wearing might be appropriate when the risk of heat-related illness is increased. |
☐ | All coaches, officials, spectators and volunteers should wear masks at all times. This helps set a good example for others and protects against transmission.
|
☐
| To help protect everyone, try to avoid: 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.
|
☐ | Minimize sharing sports equipment when possible.
|
☐ | Tell a coach if you are not feeling well and leave the practice or game with a parent or caregiver. |
After sports practice or games
☐ | Sanitize or wash hands. |
☐ | Wash or replace face masks, towel, and practice clothes or uniform. |
☐ | Clean personal sports equipment and water bottle. |
Remember
For children too young to get the COVID vaccine, it is especially important to continue steps that reduce the risk of spreading the virus. Talk with your child's pediatrician if you have any questions about your child participating safely in sports, based on vaccination eligibility, COVID-19 rates in your community and your child's health.
More Information
The information was adapted from material developed jointly by the American Academy of Pediatrics and: