The following information was sent in an email from the Presidio Soccer League on October 6, 2020:
What About Us?
Please join your Soccer Community for the
10/10/10 Rally/Protest
on 10/10 at 10:00 am at the County Administration Building: 1600 Pacific Hwy San Diego, CA
Organized by the Presidio Soccer League.
Please join your Soccer Community for the
10/10/10 Rally/Protest
on 10/10 at 10:00 am at the County Administration Building: 1600 Pacific Hwy San Diego, CA
Organized by the Presidio Soccer League.
Let's show the County Officials that we count and our children need to be playing soccer. All Players, Teams, Coaches and Parents are invited. All Youth Sports organizations are welcome. Players encouraged to wear jerseys. Everyone is to wear masks and respect social distancing.
The decision to allow youth sports to return to full competitive gaming rests in the hands of California Governor Gavin Newsom and our local elected representatives. Together their lack of concern to address the needs of our youth is troubling. While many other states have already allowed the return of competitive youth sports, California is behind the curve. If your family supports allowing a return to competitive gaming, we ask that you join us at our 10-10-10 rally/protest to bring back youth sports in the best interest of our children. This effort may seem extreme, but we have worked towards and expected a more rapid reopening with the aggressive Return to Play policies and protocols to help assure the health and safety of our participants.
In addition to helping young children maintain healthy lifestyles and learn important life skills, our programs also keep teens off the streets and engaged in positive activities with coaches, mentors, and positive role models. Amid a global pandemic, an economic depression, and a reported increase in anxiety, depression, and even attempted suicides, it has never been more important to make available to families those programs that support the health and well-being of our youth, families and communities.
Our children's physical health, mental health and social-emotional well-being is being jeopardized and our kids are asking "What About Us". When they see other states playing, going to movie theaters, hair salons, nail salons, and now even playgrounds and schools etc. partially opening. They are wondering why no one is listening or caring about them, enough is enough we need to be their voice and get the attention of the media, our politicians and most importantly Governor Newsom.
Some points and background to consider:
Please join us at:
County Administration Center
1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego 92101
October 10th at 10 am for the "WHAT ABOUT US' Rally/Protest.
This event is open to all families and players from all sports. Players are encouraged to bring signs and wear their team jerseys, bring club banners. Masks and Social Distancing will be required.
Sign samples;
(What About Us, Let Us Play, Sports Not Politics, Kids Sports Are Essential, Stop caring about the Politics and Start Caring about the Kids Off the Sideline on to the Field, SOS Save Our Sports, You aren't Listening)
We will be meeting on the West Plaza (facing the bay), please arrive by 9:30 am so we can start promptly at 10 am and be done by 11 am.
Bob Turner
Executive Director - Presidio Soccer League
The decision to allow youth sports to return to full competitive gaming rests in the hands of California Governor Gavin Newsom and our local elected representatives. Together their lack of concern to address the needs of our youth is troubling. While many other states have already allowed the return of competitive youth sports, California is behind the curve. If your family supports allowing a return to competitive gaming, we ask that you join us at our 10-10-10 rally/protest to bring back youth sports in the best interest of our children. This effort may seem extreme, but we have worked towards and expected a more rapid reopening with the aggressive Return to Play policies and protocols to help assure the health and safety of our participants.
In addition to helping young children maintain healthy lifestyles and learn important life skills, our programs also keep teens off the streets and engaged in positive activities with coaches, mentors, and positive role models. Amid a global pandemic, an economic depression, and a reported increase in anxiety, depression, and even attempted suicides, it has never been more important to make available to families those programs that support the health and well-being of our youth, families and communities.
Our children's physical health, mental health and social-emotional well-being is being jeopardized and our kids are asking "What About Us". When they see other states playing, going to movie theaters, hair salons, nail salons, and now even playgrounds and schools etc. partially opening. They are wondering why no one is listening or caring about them, enough is enough we need to be their voice and get the attention of the media, our politicians and most importantly Governor Newsom.
Some points and background to consider:
- San Diego County gave youth sports the ability to return to the field in June for distanced training and camps. We have been in that same state for 13+ weeks without a recorded case of COVID transmission among our players.
- The approvals in June came months before the state's August 3rd decision and many other California counties allowed youth sports to return within their communities. While the rest of California is allowed to conduct distanced training and practices, as we have been doing, we still await the green light to return to game-like training and games. Many surrounding states have already approved the return to competitive games.
- More and more of our teams as well as teams from other sports are being forced to travel to other states to play the game they love. The insanity of being forced to do this should not go unnoticed.
- Every discussion San Diego youth clubs has had with the County Public Health Officials have always ended with "we are following state guidance" on what is officially allowed.
- Soccer is an outdoor sport and outdoor activity has a low risk for transmission.
- Other states are looking at sports individually and addressing risks accordingly. Soccer does not have sustained close contact and is played in outdoor settings.
- Most states in the country, including those surrounding California, have already allowed gaming to return in ways that adhere to strict health protocols that will protect players, coaches and families. California can do the same.
- We know from studies and many of our own personal experiences that from a mental health standpoint young people are already suffering from six months of virtual school learning, lockdowns and a suspension of extracurricular activities. The negative impact of continuing the ban on youth could have significant consequences.
- Many youth soccer players are hoping for opportunities to play at the collegiate level. As other states continue to play and California does not, the continued development of our player's stalls.
- Modifications to the game environment can easily be made to open safely: screenings, masks while not playing, sideline limitations, etc.
Please join us at:
County Administration Center
1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego 92101
October 10th at 10 am for the "WHAT ABOUT US' Rally/Protest.
This event is open to all families and players from all sports. Players are encouraged to bring signs and wear their team jerseys, bring club banners. Masks and Social Distancing will be required.
Sign samples;
(What About Us, Let Us Play, Sports Not Politics, Kids Sports Are Essential, Stop caring about the Politics and Start Caring about the Kids Off the Sideline on to the Field, SOS Save Our Sports, You aren't Listening)
We will be meeting on the West Plaza (facing the bay), please arrive by 9:30 am so we can start promptly at 10 am and be done by 11 am.
Bob Turner
Executive Director - Presidio Soccer League