YOUTH SPORTS

After many programs were put on hold amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, the kids in our lives are eager to get back to enjoying popular fall and winter sports, like football, basketball and downhill skiing, but all the fun can sometimes lead to injuries.

There is a new program focusing on the growth of youth soccer in Black communities across the country. People right in Detroit are playing a central role in getting it off the ground.

Writer Linda Flanagan would like to see the focus shift from intense schedules and expensive leagues.

Track and field and swimming are among the team sports that might be best for children with autism.

Michigan Medicine's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital surveyed 1,630 parents with children ages 6-18 for the poll.

The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging Michigan -- and other states struggling with increased COVID-19 spread -- to impose restrictions to curb infections.

DETROIT – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is mandating COVID-19 testing for student athletes. The health department believes the latest spike in coronavirus cases might be related to the reopening of high school sports. READ: Michigan increases outdoor stadium capacity, requires COVID testing for youth sportsSchool districts and the Michigan High School Athletic Association said the changes aren’t ideal, but they will do what they have to get to sports up and running again. The mandate for testing of student athletes sent a shockwave through the sports community statewide. Initially believed to require daily testing, further clarification put the testing on a weekly basis.

DETROIT – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services raised stadium capacity Friday. There was already a lot of anticipation for the April 1 Opening Day game. READ: Michigan increases outdoor stadium capacity, requires COVID testing for youth sportsThe move is welcome news for business owners in the heart of Detroit. Still, the reduced capacity and COVID concerns have many worried about their financial future. READ MORE: 11 takeaways from Whitmer’s briefing: Alarming COVID trends, stadium capacity, confidentiality deal

DETROIT – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services raised stadium capacity Friday. There was already a lot of anticipation for the April 1 Opening Day game. The raise means that instead of 1,000 fans, more than 8,000 people can be at Comerica Park for the Opening Day game between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians. READ: Michigan increases outdoor stadium capacity, requires COVID testing for youth sportsAd“No bandanas, no gaiters -- it needs to be a cloth or medical mask. READ MORE: 11 takeaways from Whitmer’s briefing: Alarming COVID trends, stadium capacity, confidentiality deal

Gretchen Whitmer spoke Friday morning about an alarming uptick in COVID-19 numbers, increased stadium capacity and the elimination of the former health director’s confidentiality agreement. Youth athlete testingThe state announced increased testing for young athletes ages 13-19 to make sure they can safely participate in sports. This is in response to an increased number of COVID-19 outbreaks associated with youth sports, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, of MDHHS, said. OutbreaksThe governor said many of the state’s recent COVID-19 cases have been linked to high school athletics. Khaldun said the number of outbreaks in the state increased 9% from the previous week, to 645.

Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday that the state will allow increased capacity in outdoor stadiums and require COVID-19 testing for young athletes participating in sports. Stadium capacityThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has updated its COVID-19 order to allow up to 20% capacity at outdoor stadiums and arenas with infection control plans. Sends infection control plans to the local health department and MDHHS at least seven days before scheduled events. “We truly appreciate the ongoing partnership with the Governor’s office and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services,” said Chris Granger, group president of sports and entertainment for Ilitch Holdings. AdThis is in response to an increased number of COVID-19 outbreaks associated with youth sports, Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, of MDHHS, said.

LOWELL, Mich. – A high school football game in western Michigan is hitting the big screen. Lowell plans to hold a drive-in-style event Friday night to show its game against Northview and raise money to fight cancer. “We will have a big screen on a trailer," organizer Teresa Beachum said. "We are going to position cars in a drive-in theater atmosphere, and we will livestream the game. The Red Arrows usually wear red jerseys, but they’ll wear pink Friday.

With more states lifting stay-at-home orders and loosening restrictions, it could lead to the return of youth sports sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic. While organizations in just about every state are formulating plans to return, some states have already set in motion dates for a return to action. The Ohio Department of Health said youth leagues for non-contact and limited-contact sports were able to start May 26, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said youth sports and camps could start back up May 31, with games likely starting in mid-June, while Florida Gov. For more serious and expensive travel sports, this might be about the time organizations start seasons and playing prominent tournaments, but the clock is ticking.

Little League International, which announced the move, also canceled regional tournaments but said the events would return in 2021. By contrast, the NFL, the world’s most affluent professional sports league, generated roughly $16 billion in 2018, according to USA Today. Major League Baseball generated $10.7 billion in 2019 and the NBA nearly $8 billion in 2018, according to Forbes, so youth sports generated more money than those leagues combined. The owner of Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy in suburban Detroit, an organization that’s home to 150 youth volleyball teams and has produced numerous Division I college volleyball players over the years, Sack had been, as usual, making preparations for the club’s signature event. “You go from ramping up to this.”Cancellations of such big youth sports events have a serious trickle-down effect, too.