#LetThemPlayCA (Let Them Play California) rallies were held at more than 170 locations across California on January 15. This rapidly growing grassroots movement of coaches, players and parents organized the statewide effort in hopes of convincing state and county officials to allow a school sports season in 2021. Most club sports leagues are active while school sports are not – further widening the inequity gap between those than can afford to play and those that cannot, and exacerbated by the dependence on scholarships that high school sports provide for thousands of California students.
The Brentwood City Park rally was attended by students and coaches from five different high schools and more than twenty leagues and teams. Speakers included recent mayoral candidate, Ryan Raimindi, and LUHSD trustee, Erik Stonebarger.
One of the nation’s top high school coaches, Justin Alumbaugh (De La Salle High School Football, Concord, CA), made his position clear in a #LetThemPlay Facebook Live broadcast “In my 30 years of coaching, I’ve never seen kids so sad. We have had four athlete suicides in our county recently. Enough!” shared Alumbaugh, in the moving and data-driven statement he coordinated with Coach Walsh (Serra HS, San Mateo), and coaches input from every high school district in the state.
Alumbaugh asserted that the practice field might be the safest place for players to be: “609,477 times kids showed up to work out across over 200 schools – out of those that kids showed up – there were two Covid cases that were traced to the workouts …. meaning a 1 in 300,000 chance of contracting Covid on campus” TWO!!!!… Our kids need to play, and I think we’ve demonstrated that we can do that safely.”
Masks were required and School colors and signs encouraged.
Statewide Rallies, Friday, January 15 @4:00 PM
Will a Million Californians Rally Today for Youth Sports In Schools? Support from celebrity athletes, coaches, and public surge in advance of today’s statewide rallies.
CALIFORNIA (January 15, 2021) —- #LetThemPlayCA (Let Them Play California) is a rapidly growing grassroots movement of coaches, players and parents with the intent to get Gov. Gavin Newsom’s attention in hopes of convincing him to allow a school sports season in 2021. Most club sports leagues are active while school sports are not – further widening the inequity gap between those than can afford to play and those that cannot, and exacerbated by the dependence on scholarships that high school sports provide for thousands of California students.
Celebrity athletes and coaches have been adding supportive commentary to #LetThemPlay across all social media platforms – a trend that has sparked international media interest in the Rallies being planned in unison today, Friday, January 15, at 4:00 PM, just outside many high school campuses across the state of California, and at the state capitol, to show that there is a growing need for sports to return.
One of the nation’s top high school coaches, Justin Alumbaugh (De La Salle High School Football, Concord, CA), made his position clear in a #LetThemPlay Facebook Live broadcast Sunday evening: “In my 30 years of coaching, I’ve never seen kids so sad. Enough!” shared Alumbaugh, in the moving and data-driven statement he coordinated with Coach Walsh (Serra HS, San Mateo), and coaches from every HS district in the state.
Alumbaugh asserted that the practice field might be the safest place for players to be: “609,477 times kids showed up to work out across over 200 schools – out of those that kids showed up – there were two Covid cases that were traced to the workouts …. meaning a 1 in 300,000 chance of contracting Covid on campus” TWO!!!!… Our kids need to play, and I think we’ve demonstrated that we can do that safely.”
Locally, the rally to support youth sports will be held at Brentwood City Park, promoted with a 3:30 PM start time and 4:00 PM guest speakers. Masks are required and School colors and signs are encouraged. #LetThemPlayCA
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