Uncertain future still for youth sports leagues

While Fallbrook Youth Baseball is taking registration for a fall quote-unquote season, as permitted by the County of San Diego, other leagues are struggling to determine what their future holds.

"The county is going to allow us to – using air quotes over the phone – have a season, but they won't let us play (games) between teams," Bryce Kolezar, vice president of Sponsorships for FYB said. "Say there's a team of 12 for any division. They can only split up and play amongst themselves. They can't even play team B or team C. They can only split up and play amongst that group. It's just something to try and get these kids back out there."

For the fall ball season, the teams won't receive uniforms, social distancing guidelines for players and parents will be in place, as well as sanitation standards.

FYB is considering rules that prohibit sharing equipment between players, including bats, helmets, gloves and catcher's gear.

Also, the customary behavior of spitting at the old ballfield will likely be prohibited.

The full set of rules will be provided to registered players and their parents, and the league said due to the uncertainty of the season in general, there will be no refunds.

"According to the survey, there was a fair amount of interest," Kolezar said. "I know there's a bunch of kids who are just trying to get out and do something. I would be surprised if it's anywhere close toward a typical ball season."

Considering San Diego County was taken off the COVID-19 Watch List and Fallbrook schools could reopen to inperson learning as soon as early October, Kolezar was asked if he thinks the county will continue to loosen up restrictions

"I would be surprised if they budged on their guidelines that they've already given us," he said.

When the spring season was canceled earlier this year, the financial impact on the nonprofit league was significant.

Kolezar said there are some concerns about the future of the league and he is actively working on finding some sponsors in the community to help keep FYB afloat.

"We typically have that pre-all-star tournament, which is the two weeks immediately preceding the beginning of the county all-star schedule and that's our big moneymaker for the entire year," Kolezar said. "And obviously we weren't able to have that. We're hoping that by having some people up there and having some revenue generated through the abbreviated signups, that'll get us to spring. If things don't normalize by spring, it's going to be a real challenge.

"We're actually pounding the pavement in a sense with some of the businesses and organizations in town, just looking for donations because we lost a substantial amount of money in the last eight months, like everybody else."

Interested sponsors can contact Kolezar at [email protected].

Players looking to register for the fall ball season should visit http://www.fallbrookyouthbaseball.com.

Village News reached out to Fallbrook Girls Softball and Fallbrook Pop Warner leadership, but did not hear back before the press deadline. Contact information for Fallbrook NJB and Fallbrook Youth Soccer Leagues could not be located.

But, according to the Fallbrook Pop Warner Facebook page, in the latest posted update, the league isn't giving up on having a season.

"As a board, we voted to wait it out," the post reads. "What this means for us is our season will possibly not start until December or January. More details still pending from Nationals. However, if things change regarding state and school restrictions, then we will have to change with it. More good news – this push back on our start date means we have more time to register kids, as well as host fundraisers. Let's get the word out and fill those rosters for all our teams and squads."

According to the post, some Pop Warner programs from surrounding communities have already punted on having a season this year. According to a survey sent out by the league, "the majority want to have a season. The overwhelming majority don't mind waiting for a delayed start date, having a shorter season or driving to a new location in Bonsall or Rainbow for practices."

For more information and updates on the football league, visit https://tshq.bluesombrero.com/fallbrookpw?fbclid=IwAR1BjIyRJ-fv6oEq94JW7P3ZGR2mcnmM8rKQJsoP31K8wZEAjJZKJj95Mak.

Jeff Pack can be reached by email at [email protected].