Make sports regulations consistent in California

As high school sports start up again after being pushed back due to the pandemic, it is very important that the rules regarding COVID-19 remain consistent across the state. As a high school athlete who plays club sports, I have seen many different regulations regarding COVID-19. I believe that athletes perform better when there are enforced rules statewide.

Currently, my high school soccer team and my club soccer team have conflicting rules about masks when playing soccer games. The restrictions are extremely confusing since many athletes have to transition between games with masks and games without.

The rules for masks also vary among high schools. Various schools in the Bay Area enforce different regulations regarding masks, but also the amount of spectators allowed at the games.

While the rules may change from school to school, the overall rules from the state do not change. Since the state rules apply to all of the schools, they should all follow the same rules so that the players can have consistent conditions when playing.

Additionally, it also may affect athletes’ performances. Playing a game with a mask on is much harder than playing a game without a mask. If one team is training without masks and another is training with masks, the team that has been wearing masks will be more prepared.

Despite the fact that the rules across the state show that all teams should have the same regulations, this is not the case and it is vital that all teams remain consistent with the overall state guidelines regarding COVID-19 safety precautions.

— Rori Anderson, Kentfield