Just like COVID-19 has affected the professional, collegiate and high school levels of athletics, it has also altered procedures in local youth sports. Powell Recreation District’s third- and fourth-grade boys’ and girls’ basketball seasons are no exception.

From the games’ venue to the number of permitted spectators and mandatory screenings, this year looks much different from past ones. But despite the season’s strange nature, players, parents and coaches have adapted well to the various changes.

“We’re just trying to follow all the regulations and protocols and everything like that,” said Powell Rec Director Colby Stenerson. “We screen our kids before they come into the gym; we screen every participant, and it’s gone really well so far.”

Rather than hosting games at Powell schools, competitions have been played at Trinity Bible Church — the former Southside Elementary School.

The gym holds less room for spectators, so fewer fans are allowed to attend games, due to social-distancing guidelines. For a given game, one team is allowed to have spectators (two per player), while the other is not. The next time those teams play, it will be flipped and the team that didn’t have spectators the first time will get to have their fans in attendance.

Because half of the parents are unable to attend a certain game, Stenerson and his Powell Rec co-workers came up with an alternative idea: a livestream. The third- and fourth-grade boys’ and girls’ basketball games are broadcast on Facebook for parents and other relatives not in attendance.

“There hasn’t [been any backlash], and it’s been really good,” Stenerson said. “We’ve heard a lot of good comments about that. Now people from out of town — like grandma or grandpa from a different state — they can watch the game. It’s actually been pretty positive as far as I know.”

In addition to cooperation from parents, the players have done well adjusting to attendance limits.

“I think when they get active and start playing, they kind of lose sight of that a little bit and don’t worry about it,” Stenerson said. “I’m sure families talk about it beforehand.”

Among other things, Stenerson couldn’t be more appreciative of Trinity Bible Church for making itself available.

“They have been tremendous to work with and have bent over backwards in helping us provide a much-needed program to the youth,” he said.