It’s a whole new world
Having written this many times before, I will say it again: youth-sports administrators are some of the most dedicated public employees in our communities. In “normal” times, they are forced to wear several different hats and to be experts in many areas—all with the goal of providing safe and positive youth-sports experiences. But with the continued threat of a pandemic and parental concern keeping many children from activities outside the home, the challenges continue.
As I continue to hear daily about recommendations for children to return to organized play, I thought it would be appropriate to share one very dedicated Certified Youth Sports Administrator’s (CYSA) perspective on the challenges recreation staff members are facing. Aileen Henderson, Athletics Business Operations for Hillsborough County (Fla.) Parks and Recreation Department, tackles the realities of shrinking participation, concerns from parents, spectator and player safety, and more in the questions below. In youth-sports administration, it’s a whole new world.