Santa Clara County announced it is allowing "low contact" youth sports competitions to resume, aligning itself with the state's purple tier rules.
However, county health officials warned that the dangers of COVID-19 remain.
Guidelines for such competitions include wearing face masks, remaining in "stable" groups and keeping six feet apart from other participants.
But Dr. Monika Roy with the Santa Clara County health department said, while COVID-19 numbers are improving, the county’s trend remains significantly higher in terms of case rates, compared to how they added up last fall.
Roy added that, while many young people can be asymptomatic, there were cases of severe manifestation of COVID-19.
Marcelo Quiñones, Deputy County Counsel with the Santa Clara County Office of the County Counsel, said competitions can take place between two teams either inside the county, or between teams in Santa Clara County and a neighboring county.
Tournaments may be played in the following sports: track and field, cross country, golf, skiing and snowboarding tennis and swimming.
For those sports where social distancing is not possible, county officials said participants may still train, condition or build skills outdoors.
Deputy County Counsel Jenny Lam explained that the previous rule of keeping cohorts 25 feet apart is no longer in effect, but no substitutes or guest players are allowed.
"Children and youth cannot participate in more than one team at a time, and cannot change cohorts or teams more than once every three weeks," Lam said.
Lam also warned coaches not to pull their masks below their noses or on their chins while on the sidelines.
Sports such as boxing and wrestling will not be allowed until the state enters the yellow tier of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reopening plan.
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