ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - A St. Louis-area youth hockey club says it won't follow all of the new COVID-19 restrictions on youth sports taking effect on Monday. The Meramec Sharks Board of Directors sent an email to families Sunday saying they believe their current operating procedures create a safe environment.
The email reads in part, "The decision to maintain our current operating status was made after thorough consideration of many potential options. The decision was not made lightly, and should not suggest to anyone the Board of Directors does not understand the seriousness of the COVID virus."
Parents will have to sign a waiver each time their child enters the club's rink, called the Shark Tank, located in south St. Louis County. Families who don't wish to sign a waiver can ask for a pro-rated portion of their fees returned.
The club says it will continue to allow spectators.
Eliminating spectators was one of the new restrictions St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page announced last week, citing contact tracing linked to youth sports. "Effective Monday, youth teams will only be able to practice and play with their own teams," said Page in a news conference. "There won't be any competitive play, and groups will be limited to ten or less. There will be no spectators and there will be no one gathered around to watch." In Meramec's email, the Board President said the Association will continue to allow two spectators per player into their rink.
Other youth hockey programs in the region have posted rules asking parents to stay outside, when they send their athletes into a rink.
The Sharks list a 4-v-4 program on the current schedule -- it's unclear whether that involves players on the same team or from different teams.
The Board of Directors says masks will still be required at the Shark Tank, along with temperature and health checks. The club says it has had no known positive cases of coronavirus.
Here's the full email sent by the club's president, Larry Borkowski:
The group will hold a press conference at POWERplex STL.