Coronavirus Sports clubs rejoice at decision to allow children and young people to play: ‘Fortunately, common sense wins’

The metropolitan area The sports clubs welcomed the decision of the Regional State Administrative Agency of Southern Finland (AVI) to allow children and young people to engage in recreational activities.

The AVI of Southern Finland announced that hobby activities for children and young people will not be included in the scope of the closure regulations for the time being.

“Yes, this is everything in terms of the club’s activities, ie the movement of children and young people,” HIFK Ishockey Junior Manager Jari Riihinen says.

Olarin Gymnastics Executive Director is on the same lines Linda Bergström and the executive director of the floorball club Eräviikinki Jari Oksanen.

“Parents and the gymnasts themselves, as well as the participants in the activity, would have found it very unfair if such [kielto]the decision would have come now, ”says Bergström.

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“Yes, this is everything in terms of the activities of the club, ie the movement of children and young people.”

Oksanen describes the government ‘s corona group’ s recommendation last week to suspend indoor activities for children and young people was a shock and shock.

“Fortunately, after the weekend, I noticed that many woke up in public about this same topic. That was a lot of wallpaper from the beginning of the week by various sports federations, the Olympic Committee and others, that this cannot happen. ”

Junior manager Riihinen said last week To HS, does not believe that the restrictions will come into force, even though the situation is “as terrible as it is”.

“Of course, there have been hot coals here when there has been no definite information,” Riihinen says now.

“When that information came now, it was relieving news. Fortunately, common sense won, ”Oksanen adds.

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“When that information came now, it was relieving news. Fortunately, common sense won. ”

Friday avin’s decision also makes CEO Bergström sigh of relief, but only for the time being.

“No one knows what will happen in the future. Yes, you can still be on your toes here, ”he adds.

When communication is vague and policies change, including quarantine, testing, and inspection of corona passports, clubs have plenty of work to do.

“The most important thing, of course, is that the children are allowed to continue and we are able to organize the activities in a safe way. Yes, that bureaucracy is dealt with in one way or another, ”says Bergström.

“I’d rather not do that at all.”

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“No one knows what will happen in the future. Yes, you can still be on your toes here. ”

Indoors a ban on hobbies would have forced clubs to come up with alternative practices.

There is certainly time and space for side training outdoors, but it is not a substitute for sports training, although certain circles criticize indoor training.

“It’s said that kids can go skiing, running or climbing trees, but yes, that guided hobby in their own beloved sport is a motivator for many to leave, and well so. That activity can now continue, ”Riihinen rejoices.

Oksanen reminds that the transfer of practice also has a mental effect. Organizing a replacement activity would be challenging with about one and a half thousand juniors.

“Yes, it should have been quite an idea that it would have motivated the big masses to do something and not just stay home,” he adds.

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“A guided hobby in your own beloved sport is a motivator for many to leave, and so be it.”

Provided The open decision in Southern Finland would have been different, the blow would have been huge for a large number of children and young people, and no one could have guaranteed enough restrictions for a couple of weeks.

“The restrictions will come in a few weeks, and then we’ll think about whether they will continue. In practice, they would have been for an indefinite period from the point of view of the club and enthusiasts, ”says Oksanen.

“Even if it had been technically two weeks at first, we couldn’t have known if it would stay that way. Then we would have been in the black hole without knowledge, because it will continue and how. ”

However, Avi’s Friday decision is not perfect in all its permissiveness. It leaves adult juniors completely empty.

For example, the A-junior hockey series currently called U20 Juniors is on ice because the players are not yet professionals and are no longer minors.

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“Even if it had been technically two weeks at first, we wouldn’t have known if it would stay.”

HIFK: n Riihinen sees the situation as really unfair for players of this age group.

“They’ve been investing their entire years of childhood and youth in that. Now we are again in a situation where they are not allowed to make a point for many in their own profession, ”he says.

According to Riihinen and many others, the sharpest tip in junior sports should have been completed.

“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, because we’re really grateful that it will continue, but you’re probably guessing what players in that age group think when there’s no professional contract in their pocket yet,” he says.

HIFK’s U20 team, Kolle, has players who have already played in the Men’s League, and for example Aleksanteri Kaskimäki, 17, would still fit in the U18 team. However, it would not serve his development.

“There are dozens of top hockey players in Finland who are in a lockdown because of their age,” Riihinen says.