Sumter Parks and Rec cancels youth sports this summer; to host camps as alternative

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The Sumter Recreation and Parks Department announced on Friday that it will not host a summer season for youth baseball and softball.

The season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the door was opened for a return when South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster gave the order rec departments across the state could resume sports if they chose to do so.

The Sumter Recreation and Parks Department sent a poll out to parents this past week gauging interest in a potential return, but director Phil Parnell said that too many parents said they would not want their children to play for a number of reasons.

"Well, we sent the survey out and we got probably about a 50-50 on yeses and nos," said Parnell. "We just got too many people that didn't want to play because of the heat or vacations and the virus. They just don't feel safe, so we're going to cancel our baseball and softball."

On top of the coronavirus pandemic, heat was a major concern that parents and the rec department had to keep in mind, Normally, the youth baseball and softball seasons are wrapping up at the end of May and early June followed by the all-star season. However, the season would have to take place right in the middle of the hottest part of the summer.

"We really wanted to have a season, so we really wanted to take this step to see if it was even feasible to do a season, but we just got too many nos back," said Parnell. "We gave it our best shot."

The canceled season doesn't mean kids across Sumter will be without baseball and softball entirely. As an alternative, the rec department will host a series of baseball and softball camps to give kids a chance to play in some capacity.

The camps will run from Monday through Friday for five weeks starting on June 29. Kids will be able to sign up to one of the three different age groups for baseball or softball and will have the option to attend as many as the camps as they choose.

Hosting camps, rather than a season, gives the department a little more flexibility. The camps will also have morning and evening sessions to combat some of the issues with heat. Parnell said information about these camps will be available next week as the final details are ironed out.

"Next week is kind of going to be an informational week as we try to get info out there. We'll try to get signups online on June 15," said Parnell. "We're going to run them five weeks in a row and kids can come to all five, and if they do come to all five, they'll get basically a $25 discount. But they can choose one camp or if they're going on vacation during July 6-9, then they can sign up for the other three, so it gives them options."

The morning and afternoon sessions, as well as the number of age groups, will help the camps follow social distancing protocols, but there will also be some important rules. The most important is that kids will have to bring their own equipment, as McMaster's guidelines for sports returning prohibits sharing equipment. The different age groups will play on different fields, with the baseball camps likely at Palmetto Park and softball at Dillon Park.

Now that the summer season is officially canceled, Parnell and his department will shift their focus to ironing out the details for the camp. Parnell said they are still looking for instructors, but already have some plans in place that will be announced once things are finalized.

"We've reached out already. I actually had one high school coach reach out already that's willing to help us with the camps," said Parnell. "He offered to help out with the baseball side of things, which was really appreciated. Then we've got some college softball players that are home for the summer that played at some of the different colleges in the Southeast that we're with to help us with softball.

"We've got some irons in the fire, but we've still got to secure some things. We're looking for qualified instructors, people to help us put these camps on."

While Parnell was disappointed the seasons had to be canceled, he was glad to find an alternative option so that kids can stay active this summer.

"I think it's good. I coach a little girls softball team and we had our first practice Monday and these kids have been cooped up for two and a half months and they haven't been getting outside," said Parnell. "We've gotta get these kids something to do. They can't stay shut up for a whole year, so I think it's important to offer something. We're going to do it the right way and keep the kids safe."