This article appears in the September/October edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, available exclusively to US Lacrosse members. Join or renew today! Thank you for your support.

Controversy and anxiety continue to swirl around the return of players to the field in the middle of a global pandemic.

US Lacrosse developed sport-specific return-to-play recommendations thanks to the leadership of the health care experts on our Sports Science and Safety Committee. These recommendations, which outline a gradual five-stage return to play based on infection rates and public health directives, culminate in a return to tournament competition in Stage 5 if “there is evidence of isolated cases or limited community transmission ... and no evidence of exposure in large communal setting.”

While seasons for hundreds of thousands of players have been lost, a number of youth tournaments transpired this summer. More events are planned for the fall. This rush to return in the midst of regional infection surges has been driven by a few factors — the desire of club and tournament owners to minimize the economic damage to their ailing businesses, the panic among prospective college student-athletes and their families caused by a collapse of the normal recruiting process and the desire of parents to allow their children some semblance of normalcy after months of quarantine and home schooling.

These perspectives are understandable, but they set the stage for a moral dilemma. If the immediate health and welfare of players is of the highest importance, should these events go on? What factors should clubs and parents consider to assure the safety of families is prioritized? 

Several years ago, US Lacrosse launched a tournament sanctioning program, partnering with event operators interested in adopting shared best practices to provide a safer, more consistent experience for players, families and clubs. The program grew to include more than 20 operators and 100 events at the beginning of this year.

Although a number of events have been canceled, thousands of US Lacrosse members and their families still planned to attend tournaments. On their behalf, we have provided tournament owners with recommendations to lower the risk of COVID-19 infection.

I’m sympathetic to the club and tournament operators, whose businesses are suffering. US Lacrosse operations have been significantly impacted by the suspension of play, as well. I’m also sympathetic to the angst of rising sophomores, juniors and seniors for whom participation in tournaments has long been an important component of the college recruiting process. It’s interesting to note, however, that the NCAA has voiced its opinion on the relative safety of attending such events. It extended the recruiting dead period through January 1 to protect college coaches from the risks of travel and mass gatherings. 

The physical and social value of team sport to a child’s development is without question, and the prolonged stoppage has been a blow to the psyches of everyone involved. My greatest fear, however, is that a COVID-19 outbreak is traced to a tournament that failed to follow US Lacrosse return-to-play recommendations, prompting public health officials to conclude that youth sports are a Petri dish of virus spread that must be shut down indefinitely. The negative impact would be far more damaging than anything we’ve experienced to date.