Thank you for your time in reading my petition regarding yesterday's, 08-06-2020 decision to cancel Youth Tackle Football in Carroll County.

As a resident of Carroll County for the last 34 years and a member of the Youth Sports Community in Carroll County for the last 12 years I was grossly alarmed by the decision handed down yesterday to cancel Youth Tackle Football. Yes I understand the pandemic and the challenges that it gives to various activities every day. I am a caregiver, and Med Tech for seniors. I understand the challenges, protocols, safety measures and the daily interruption that this pandemic has caused.

Who was consulted in this decision? Everything I read and have watched regarding the decision says that parents and youth programs were consulted as well other counties. Of the at least 500 people I have asked and communicated with today regarding youth football, not a single one was talked to. Of the numerous heads of organizations that I associate with across the entire county, I have not encountered one that was contacted. Who made the decision?

Did the Department of Health make the decision? Not to my knowledge, from my knowledge, one person from Park and Rec made a blanket statement and the decision was made to eliminate, not one, not two, but three youth sports.

Funny how the guidelines that Youth Football in Carroll County were using are good enough to be shared now across the county as guidelines for other sports to follow. I saw my childs teammates parents sitting six feet apart wearing masks everyday at football practice, and or staying in their cars. 

We are being told the Flag Football is a suggested alternative. Have you ever watched flag football? There is just as much contact with less physical protection in Flag Football as Tackle Football. Where's the common sense. The common sense cannot be the CDC says Tackle Football is more of high risk. We are being told to wear a mask if you are playing Flag. Then why not mandate a shield inside the helmet. It is the same thing and actually allows a kid to breath as a mask does not when exerting them selves. Go run a mile in mask and tell me you liked it.

https://youtu.be/lVuDOp4tPeE

Were any Youth Football programs found to be in violation of any mandates that had been put out. Did anyone bother to come watch my children and the 30 plus players on each team at their practices, and one of my kids who is in her last year of Youth Football work out for the last 4 weeks while taking water breaks on social distanced cones. Did anyone bother to look or ask to see our temperature logs that are being taken at every practice. Or see that coaches are wearing masks, and taking extra time to keep our kids safe. Did anyone bother?

Has anyone spoken with the Department of Mental Health and asked them what all these continued decisions are doing to the Youth today. Has anyone thought about all that you have taken. We have taken from them over the last 6 months everything that kids do. When is enough a enough. When are we going to let people make the correct decisions for themselves. When are we going to let kids be kids. We are either going to start making the right decisions for our kids or we might as well just sit back and wait for them to get in some type of trouble or worse because we have taken their outlet, know this, in some situations they will find another outlet.

I really hope you will reconsider this decision, and give all the youth in the county something to stay active, healthy, happy, and excited about!

Sports are so much more than a game, its a family, and these kids truly thrive from being a part of a team and activity they love and enjoy!

Thank you,

Amanda Cunningham

(Proud Westmister Wildcats parent and biggest cheerleader)

Please email your concerns to the following addresses

dfrazier@carrollcountymd.gov

swantz@carrollcountymd.gov

crweaver@carrollcountymd.gov

ebouchat@carrollcountymd.gov

erothstein@carrollcountymd.gov

ed.singer@maryland.gov

jdegitz@carrollcountymd.gov