Messages

1

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: February 19, 2021, 11:20:47 AM »

The following Letter to the Editor on the impact of Covid-19 on children athletes was submitted by Bishop’s High School football team coach Richard Goddard, who is a former Trinidad and Tobago international footballer:

https://wired868.com/2021/02/19/dear-editor-covid-19-regulations-unfairly-and-disproportionately-affecting-youth-athletes/

For God in Heaven's sake....... why are we allowing this madness to continue?

2

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: February 11, 2021, 04:35:04 AM »

We really need to think.

https://www.guardian.co.tt/business/finance-minister-admits-tt-in-economic-peril-6.2.1287877.1e61a7b24a?fbclid=IwAR16hrjaRHfwzHnlGwQ6rO6lTQ7iB58gyjfPdZkAkcqH22WsG_tyDbRa5XI

3

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: February 01, 2021, 08:10:41 PM »

So......ummm..... Now that we've seen what a year-long break from training and playing can do, are we still going try figuring out a way to re-start sport participation, especially for our children?

Or are we going to continue pushing the entire nation to have a 15-year comeback plan?

4

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: January 24, 2021, 05:58:50 PM »

Jim, part of the issue here is Covid 19, has a more devastating psychological effect on adults than kids. Death and it’s awareness by the adults around. Children are more adaptive to whatever environment they grow into, I think as harsh as that environment is, if it don’t kill them makes them strong. In some cases, negatively so. Adults are less able to handle the extremes of the change. Unfortunately as children seem to be less effected, the data reflects the observed affected population, in Covid case, adults. That’s who presents most, and probably who would express their experience based feelings in surveys more.

Saw this article recently.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(21)00005-5/fulltext

I think I've added this specific webpage to my research document already, so we're essentially on the same page 

Of course parents and adults in general are going to be more concerned. I'm again reiterating that in T&T, we are not paying enough attention to the mental and physical well being of our children during this pandemic. Children will always be more adaptive but as I've said already, when you remove sports that absorb thousands of persons (children and adults), the vacuum created is difficult to fill.

We are into our 9th month in total and going on 6 months straight of sport 'lockdown'. We must also remember they're attending school and many are taking extra classes. Add extra stresses of parents and adults and the recipe for....... unintended social and health problems.

5

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: January 24, 2021, 01:26:24 PM »

Of Course the pandemic has touched and exacerbate all negative aspects of society. However, mental issues especially amongst societies across the world has been seen to be on the rise even before the pandemic. Covid has served to only make another bad situation, worse. Like every other element of stress that we had normally before it's arrival.
Maybe the only reduction has been the Flu. Everything else dealing with physical and mental health has been ramped up, with the mental aspects hitting record levels, as very little conclusive answers/results determined from research due to the difficulty of the area of study. Very hard to determine from a corpse why ? In many cases the survivors are not even sure themselves.
Without getting into to much personal detail, we have seen it and trying to survive this ramped up level with professional help.

https://www.mdedge.com/pediatrics/article/210877/adolescent-medicine/suicide-deaths-rising-children-aged-10-19-years?sso=true


NEWS FROM THE FDA/CDC
Suicide deaths rising in children aged 10-19 years
Publish date: October 25, 2019
By Richard Franki

Violent deaths have been rising among young people aged 10-19 years in the United States since 2007, driven largely by increases in suicides, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Suicide and homicide death rates in young people, 2000-2017
Death rates from suicide for children aged 10-14 years jumped by 178% from 2007 to 2017, while teenagers aged 15-19 years experienced a 76% increase over that period, with both changes reaching significance, the NCHS said in a recent data brief based on data from the National Vital Statistics System.

The actual rate for teens was higher to begin with, however, so in absolute terms the increase is larger for the older group. In 2007, deaths from suicide occurred at a rate of 6.7 per 100,000 persons for persons aged 15-19 years, and by 2017 that rate was up significantly to 11.8 per 100,000. Among children aged 10-14 years, the suicide-related death rate climbed from 0.9 per 100,000 in 2007 to 2.5 in 2014, the NCHS investigators reported.

RELATED
Suicide attempts up in black U.S. teens
The news was somewhat better on the other side of the violent death coin. Homicides are down by a significant 18% since 2000 among children aged 10-14 years, as the rate dropped from 1.1 per 100,000 in 2000 to 0.9 in 2017. The homicide rate since 2000 is down slightly for teens aged 15-19 years, but it has risen 32% in recent years, going from 6.6 deaths per 100,000 in 2013 to 8.7 in 2017, they said.

Suicide was the second-leading cause of death in both age groups in 2017, and homicide was third for those aged 15-19 and fifth among 10- to 14-year-olds, the investigators noted.

rfranki@mdedge.com

And we, in T&T are lagging behind in this regard. My worry is that we are so concerned with COVID-19 spread that we aren't keeping tabs on aspects of society that need our attention. I'm going out on a limb here, but the vast majority of press conferences have said much about mental health of the public and even less about children and how they are coping. Only recently (I think last week) Deyalsingh spoke because he seemingly realised the constant message of social (physical distancing), mask on, do not congregate and the lack of normal is really hurting a significant percentage of the population. It would be a few months well the topic has been discussed to any degree and based on what the Min of Health is saying, we have a long way to go as he cannot guarantee that their plan of vaccination, etc will work with impeccable precision.

6

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: January 24, 2021, 05:12:23 AM »

'Children under pressure,' boy, 14, dies by suicide

https://guardian.co.tt/news/children-under-pressure-boy-14-dies-by-suicide-6.2.1279871.8df7738b9e

In the 2007 Global School Health Report for T&T, it was found that 18 per cent of students within the 13-15 year age group who were interviewed, considered attempting suicide and 20 per cent of the female students were more likely to plan how they would attempt suicide.

Deyalsingh warned that COVID-19, "has now multiplied the mental fallout we are witnessing."

He said, "COVID has seen homes ravaged by poverty and an unemployed parent is a parent on edge. We have seen increases in domestic violence and sexual abuse, and people trying to adjust to the new norm. The uncertainty of when this will end, the joys of teenage relationships and friendships have been stymied.

"Some are asking why study and they lose themselves for hours in a virtual world. Parents are at their wit's end to get children to leave their online games and must tread carefully as this virtual life has more meaning to certain children."

7

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: January 02, 2021, 03:25:53 PM »

So here's mt thoughts. Little more concerned, probably due to my mom amd my own age..
 I for exercise and training, as a matter of fact, my sons have been training since Last February, without competition to now. Without a pool most of the time.-All public pools close. By Zoom, and on their own, 2 to 3 times a day, in between online course. Pool opened with restrictions for ppl and time, 45 mins session, one got 8 swims in the last 3 mths, the other 2. But they keeps training daily, motivated by their coaches and us, and most importantly themselves - cause we taught them it's all about them - as Olympic trials is scheduled for April and at 22 and 23 by the time following, they want to get on with the rest of his life. Their only regret they can't train together, as they are separated by distance. Besides that, they may not even be invited to attend even if there is a meet, and between us, although I am pretty certain given the situation and current rankings, they probably won't make either a Canada or TT Olympic team, I don't discourage them, because I am happy and proud they giving it their best shot under the circumstances, even though they blank me from coaching them.   

If can be done with proper care and safety I all for it, but after spending 6 weeks in hospital and surviving with something more predictable than covid, and hearing the boss describe the state of some of the worse cases. I praying nobody have to see a paramedic for a bust toe kicking stone.

I can tell you for a fact, that pre Zone red levels, we were still calm, hospital and staff managed - although some hospital staff became infected - as schools started  reopening in September whereas some part of the provinces were yellow and green. Even before, May, June, for example Regional Soccer associations opened with a plan in line with Provincial guidelines which were even more stringent that the CDC recommended guidelines (remember Quebec at the time was hardest hit - still is), we were getting 100 cases a day and bawling. The sporting Assocs say we got to get the kids out, they not as affected, parents needed a break from parenting and trying to adjust to situations(many unemployed, some layoff, some work from home) as well.
Nb. dates and timeline below.

 Then Boom, second wave and everywhere went red, I know quite a few kids and teachers contracted the virus, and brought it home (have a story bout meh nice good-looking single mom neighbor). All hospital scrambled to prepare for increase in cases, whereas in the earlies 3 hospitals were assigned as centres, now we having 2000 + cases a day, and that is with lockdown , overwhelmed-  Only Groceries and Pharmacies open, for the last month. The hospitals are overwhelmed and of course no visit nor walk-in's. The deaths at present is not just the aged, where staff shortage became detrimental, but the inability of the general hospitals to keep ppl alive due to increased number of cases, lack of space, equipment etc... before we had ICU handling Covid cases, now we have COvid Wards on Covid Floors. There is not enough staff to cover the amount of beds, leading to more mortality rates etc...besides other factors like fatigue errors, misdiagnosis, severity of arrivals from their homes, decreased transport, increase in multiple cases at the same home etc...Crazy stuff. See deaths by age in report below (July 14,2020).
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-in-quebec-a-timeline-of-key-dates-and-events-1.4892912
(Jan'1,2021)
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-in-quebec-a-look-back-at-2020-the-year-of-the-novel-coronavirus-1.5250587

So here's my question, Let's say y'all full open up sports, within the rules like us (nb: Iceland have even less cases and deaths than TT - besides how many ppl from the most infected countries travel back to Iceland as compared to travelers to TT from those most infected countries, recognizing USA , Canada, India and western Europe as hotspots.)
 sidetracked, back to my question :Let's say y'all full open within CDC sporting guidelines (nb at present our CDC guidelines is LOCKDOWN, essential services only, everything closed ), and there is some minor spread, based on the scramble that was made for 1st wave and very decent preparedness actions taken, Do you think that Hospitals in Trinidad &/or Tobago can handle the rapid attack and increased casualties, that will come with a 2nd wave, which has proven to overwhelm and taken over this part of the continent ?

If you think with an increase in activity that the spread and increase of cases will never overwhelm your system to that extent, then by all means proceed. Where we are, we have to proceed on the side of caution, and try to make do with what we have and can do. Non ah we going for no run in no snow, telling weself is beach or sandtrack, but we could. Mammy get Treadmill, rowing machine and weights. I find lilman looking more like a WWF rep than ah fighter fish, buh wha I know, I's only daddie 

Nb: the CDC guidelines have been constantly and consistently changed to try to preclude scenarios based on a current situation that then becomes history.

Aight. The best conversation I've had about this....Thankfully.

My mom and dad are 69 and 80 respectively and my wife is asthmatic, so I'm very aware of one day of being careful can turn into calamity, but I still have to move around. I'll do what I can to stay safe and that's the best I can do.

What your sons are doing is essentially what I would like to happen. Guided training session overseen by their coaches with adherence to health and safety protocols. it isn't a lot to say....ok... what can be done. It's more a case of nothing is being done.

In other words, nothing has been tried except the ban and if I'm correct, the Minister of Health never said anything about Coronavirus spreading through children playing. Our biggest area of concern has been returning nationals and zesser (but not wesser) parties as super spreader events. There was little discussion about the general election being the super spreader event but I digress.

Now I'm not saying open full. I expect some restrictions. What I'm saying is simple. We're gone through 2 lockdowns with neither of them because of children and adolescent spread. The majority of evidence is showing our youngest are able to social (physical) distance, wear a mask and generally understand the rules and regulations. Many have not visited G-ma and G-pa because the regulations said not to. The vast majority of coaches understand the risk of a child being sick and attending training and tend to already have a plan of action for that. Let's not keep the children and adolescents at home to be home frustrated and wondering what happens next. Slowly but surely, re-introduce them to the 'normal' way to train. If given the opportunity, coaches will do what is necessary to ensure the safety of the players under their supervision. However, the action to literally stop contact sports has eliminated 60-70% of all persons under 18 being physically active through sport. *I did a rough estimate per Tobago primary and secondary schools and it is possible that approx 1,500 children cannot have football training. This is only football. Netball, basketball, swimming, all martial arts and more being added that number could balloon to 2,500. Even the police clubs had to pull back all activities. Too many idle and stressed children we are not addressing.

Based on all the info I currently have at my disposal, if the children and adolescent population are not at serious risk of getting so sick they require being hospitalised, we should seriously explore having them return to even the basic levels of team training. It doesn't seem as though any healthcare system has been tipped or function under significant levels of stress sue to children and adolescents becoming sick. My basic street level view is that the Trinidad and Tobago healthcare system will be ok. This might even encourage adults to become active again as they could now drop their child and go for a walk (might be their only opportunity to get exercise) as many would have been doing anyhow. Remember, when the children are home parents must keep them in account.

I do not want anyone here to believe I'm advocating for full blown Speyside vs Guaya matches. Let's look at how we can apply regulations and detail a plan of action. Start locally and over time, assess, re-assess, then re-assess again. But this madness of literally putting a halt to possibly 60-70% of all children and adolescents being active through contact sport with no inclining of a solution being worked on is a danger within itself, in the short and long term. And again I ask....why aren't our sport leaders questioning this logic when there seem to be multiple templates for youth sport to return in measured capacities?

*CDC information changing on a regular basis is true. However some data has either showed certain trends have are variable (infection rates) or steadied (children/adolescent mortality rates).

8

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: January 02, 2021, 03:33:03 AM »

Some criticism from the boss.
Emphasis should be placed on type of sport and focusing on outdoor activities.
Football etc. fine. Judo indoor etc, not good.

Although very low likelihood of mortality in kids , it is not clear that the risk of transmission to adults/aged is not a concern.

Now I can understand the concern for some sports. This isn't lost on me (I used to do karate so I really do understand). However, it lacks foresight to say contact sport has the inability to make adjustments and work with certain regulations. This is what's bothering me the most. They broad-brushed all contact sport and children taking part in those sports while seemingly disregarding the actual health of the children in all of this. Worse yet, few questions are asked about the well being of the children, and when I say few.... I mean a few. So on the surface the aim is to control the spread, while creating the environment for children to become more susceptible to getting sick.

I would also expect the same precautions would be taken as COVID-19 is still communicable via secondary, tertiary or greater contact.

Also key to note.... based on seasonal patterns, Canada and US are expected to have more severe COVID-19 numbers due to the peak flu winter months.

The letter was written based on all the research I've done including data from the CDC and Iceland's most recent study.

www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm updated to Dec 30th 2020
14 and under - 0.0003381077, 24 and under - 0.0019391472 (calculated overall mortality numbers for each age group divided by total deaths)

www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/we-now-know-how-much-children-spread-coronavirus/ Iceland study of 40,000 children.

www.sportsdestinations.com/management/health/scientific-studies-youth-soccer-show-low-or-no-ris-19504 Sheds light on COVID-19 and soccer environments
* (Side note: Every club, without exception, reported having a formal COVID-19 plan in place to reduce risk)

For the sake of balance.. www.aspenprojectplay.org/coronavirus-and-youth-sports/reports/2020/10/27/experts-dismiss-survey-claiming-no-extra-risk-of-virus-through-sports

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/playing-sports.html Is the Min. of Health saying we cannot follow these protocols?

9

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: January 01, 2021, 03:44:57 PM »

Friday 1st January 2020

Trinidad Guardian (Tobago Today)

Time to reconsider ban on contact sport

The statistics don’t lie. A study of 40,000 children in Iceland showed that children and adolescents are half as likely to be infected by or transmit the coronavirus to others. In fact, based on data from the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), the likelihood of someone 14 and under and 24 and under losing their life to coronavirus is between 0.0003395935% and 0.0019449447% respectively.

In Quebec, Canada, elementary schools were re-opened in early May 2020 and all schools in September. Their research has shown persons under 20 years old make up 0.0% of all deaths in the province.
In China, Spain, Italy, England, Ireland, Canada, the United States and Australia, the children are playing all versions of sport. Not in Trinidad and Tobago though.

Contact sport participation makes up approximately 60-70% (possibly up to 80%) of children and adolescents in Trinidad and Tobago, who are physically active in sport. The ill-advised ban of contact sport has now created an impending national health crisis, as inactive children and adolescents are less likely to become or stay physically active in later life and eventually add significant pressures on the national health care system due to obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, fragile bone density and yes, the ability to fight off coronavirus. In addition, research and data from the Pakistan Journal of Medicine, American Academy of Paediatrics, Mental Health UK, Frontiers in Psychology and Psychiatric Times show how mentally draining and challenging lockdowns and quarantines have been on children from all over the world. In T&T, the psychological effects of ‘wear a mask, stay at home and social (physical) distancing’ are now resulting in zesser vs wesser and the police being told to be in ‘Carnival mode of operations’ for Old Year’s into New Year’s Day.

The Government of T&T, seemingly, has not quantified the mental and physical effects on children and adolescents nor the financial fallout from the lack of sport, as there is no national data being brought forward highlighting these areas of concern. What we do know is that the basis of instituting the ban on contact sport with children and adolescents is flawed, based on multiple countries’ approach utilising the scientific data provided by World Health Organisation, CDC and multiple other health organisations around the world. It is therefore imperative that the Ministry of Health seriously reconsider its position, as our children’s and society’s well-being depends on it.

10

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: December 26, 2020, 07:11:29 AM »

The Salvadoran approach.

Happens as we enter pretty much anywhere....except the spraying of the shoes.

11

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: December 23, 2020, 03:39:28 PM »

maxg wrote:

Add: The boss agrees with you, as far as Tobago - her short answer (during a 5 am turn)- Ventilation and living accommodations is much better - fewer apartments, etc, different environmental and weather restrictive communities, less influx and spread of cases due to fewer external travelers and in transit numbers, better government-controlled monitoring and ppl awareness, thus easier to control. Way fewer cases and extended community spread that would cause widespread infections. Children should and can be active outside.

I think the logic in the argument lil upside down. Fact 1) Children can't drive themselves around so currently parents tell them to stay home and they are home. Fact 2) Children infection rate is lower than adults.
(seems at least partly causal to me).
Suggestion by RG: Let the children come out b/c they 'not getting covid" at high rates
Parallel suggestion: line up the kids on a wall and only shoot one in 100 of them.

I think RG's opinion will change if (God forbid) he personally knew somebody who died (or even was hospitalized for) covid.

By summer i think most kids would be vaccinated and life should 'return to normal'.

And at what point is it upside down? What I presented isn't based on my opinion. It's based on the current data being presented from multiple countries, including China and the badly affected US, Great Britain, Spain and Italy. This information is being used to determine if it is safe, using the necessary precautions, for children to return to their normal and usual sport setting. And for what it's worth, I know of at least two persons who died from COVID-19 related illness (and I already mentioned earlier close family members had to go into quarantine for COVID-19). Had a convo with a good friend of mine based on the west coast and he was explaining the measures put in place. I do not think it's that difficult to analyse the data and realise the current conclusion of children staying at home and becoming static is not good for them and not good for society.

12

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: December 23, 2020, 05:06:09 AM »

I will see if the boss has a contribution.
I can tell you Quebec has been hardest hit in Canada, most deaths even with hospitality have been the aged most of the icu sick other than aged, ppl with underlying chronic  issues. 
My neighborhood son show symptoms- believe caught at school, the school stayed open, yellow zone, few symptoms. Of course the kid quarantine , his mom and sister started feeling the early symptoms (she’s a nurse instructor) They all quarantine 2 weeks,3 days later the boy (5) started being back to normal, no fever, active etc, daughter no fever, Monther kidney stones... ambulance called rushed to hospital, police came as neighbours couldn’t yet stay with kids, the police stood outside at the  door for 2 hrs while the dad drove from Ontario where he works. The mother had procedure and back home 2 days, stil quarantine. Student nurse curriculum delayed as she recovered and further quarantine.
Aged COVID free neighborhood couldn’t assist. We are dealing with more diseases, illnesses and deaths..got to make a run.. will be back

Trust me when I say.... it was closer to me that I thought. Close family relatives got it and had to do the quarantine thing.
I'm sure you're familiar with www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/situation-coronavirus-in-quebec/#c63035

While I understand there are serious risks, there are risks regardless. Children aren't the drivers of this pandemic... it's the adults. By all logic all adults should stay home but it is what it is. All I'm saying is that children remaining physically active in normal surroundings, based on research and the data available from multiple countries, show little adverse effects to children taking part in contact sport. My very good friend in Rochester, NY has her 2 children taking part in soccer (with stipulated restrictions). There was no stoppage of their youth leagues and few, if any, cases of COVID-19 reported. Of course there will be situations that warrant more oversight but this is based on the numbers that haven't changed from since COVID-19 showed its face.

13

Football / Re: I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: December 22, 2020, 10:55:56 PM »

Only issue I see at present RG. The kids don’t live in a bubble. Parents, Grandparents, community is especially an issue in any such sporting environment. Kids developing immune system are quite strong and adaptive, yet they can be the largest group of carriers of flu type viruses, as developed thought on care and hygiene is still in lower development stages. They are good today, but we can’t even get many developed adults to take the proper precautions during this pandemic . Still I do hope some type of new normal arrangement can be organized sooner than later.

No they don't live in a bubble. However, again the data is indicating the children aren't really getting COVID-19 from other children. They're getting it from their own households, so it's mother, father, big brother or big sis who are going to work, supermarkets, barbershop and beauty salons, etc. Additionally, parents aren't really allowing children to go see their grandpa and grandma (I expect disagreements but with children doing on-line learning, many don't need to go by grandparents to do school work). I'm watching that 1st hand. The suggestion of an all-out ban of contact sport doesn't allow children to develop their immune systems either and this is even worse as they're now going to be susceptible to other strains of communicable viruses and bacteria. Scientifically, logically and financially, this decision lacks clarity of thought and careful analysis of the impact this kind of action places solely on a child.

I recently came across two other documents
PA West Return to Play Guidelines - a very detailed document concerning youth soccer and covid-19

2nd Document
COVID-19 in Youth Soccer

Andrew M. Watson, MD, MS,1
 Kristin Haraldsdottir, PhD,1
 Kevin Biese, MS,2
 Leslie Goodavish, PA,1
Bethany Stevens,2
 Timothy McGuine, PhD, LAT1
From the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation,1
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, and
The Department of Kinesiology,2 University of Wisconsin – Madison

Conclusions: The incidence of COVID-19 among youth soccer athletes is relatively low when compared to
the background incidence among children in the United States and the local general population. No
relationship was identified between club COVID-19 incidence and phase of return to soccer. Youth soccer
clubs universally report implementing a number of risk reduction procedures.

14

Football / I'm advocating for the return of contact sport for U18 children....

« on: December 22, 2020, 08:38:37 PM »

LONG POST WARNING

Now I'm certain a number of persons will disagree but the actual information and statistics give serious credibility to having our children remaining active during the pandemic.

There seems to be an incredible willingness to group everyone into a massive bracket of persons most likely to be infected, get sick and (unfortunately) die from COVID-19. However the data that is readily available for everyone and anyone to have access to somehow is either not being considered nor being received. So I'm going to bring to light significant bits of info for all here.

What's also bothering me is the seeming unwillingness of reporters to ask these very serious questions as the lack of activity in children has become a national health crisis in the last 20-30 years.

www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/investigations-discovery/hospitalization-death-byage.html (Updated August 18 2020)
COVID-19 death rates of children below 18 years old ranges between 9-16x lower than the normal
rate.

www.cnbc.com/2020/09/15/the-coronavirus-has-killed-at-least-121-young-people-in-the-us-mostlyminorities-cdc-says.html Tuesday 15th September 2020
121 persons under 21 died due to COVID-19 in the US

www.patientcareonline.com/view/covid-19-update-us-and-global-cases-deaths-and-recoveries-asof-september-21-2020
As of September 21st 2020, the US had 199,525 persons deaths due to COVID-19

So....based on both bits of data... 121/199,525 is 0.0006064403

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7372688/
CONCLUSION
Overall, this review suggests that quarantine is associated with far reaching and significant negative
impact on psychological wellbeing of children and adolescents. Of more concern is the finding that
this negative psychological effect can still be detected months or years later. Stigma has also been
rife in children and families who underwent quarantine. As quarantine is essential to contain
diseases in many cases, it is important that steps and measures are taken to make this experience
less traumatic for vulnerable young people. This can be done by honest and age and
developmentally appropriate communication, ensuring routines and minimizing disruption in
education, encouraging healthy lifestyle, enhancing positive relationship between families,
managing parental stress and incorporation of health promotion activities in school curriculum.
These strategies may ensure that the physical and mental health impact of quarantine on children
and adolescents are kept minimal. Further research to examine long term impact of quarantine and
prolonged school closures on children are urgently needed to guide policies.

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/scotland-impacts-of-lockdown-summary.pdf
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/impacts-lockdown-mental-health-children-and-youngpeople
Both articles indicate significant mental health and stress issues with children and young people due
to COVID-19 practices of lock-down and quarantine

www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/new-findings-children-mental-health-covid-19
Based on surveys and research done in China, Bangladesh, Spain and Italy highlighted the severe
impact COVID-19 is having on their children and adolescent populations

www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.579038/full
The COVID-19 quarantine has affected more than 860 million children and adolescents worldwide,
but to date, no study has been developed within Western countries to examine the psychological
impact on their lives. The present study aims to examine for the first time the emotional impact of
the quarantine on children and adolescents from Italy and Spain, two of the countries most affected
by COVID-19. Participants were 1,143 parents of Italian and Spanish children aged 3 to 18 years
who completed a survey providing information about how the quarantine affects their children and
themselves, compared to before the home confinement. Results show that 85.7% of the parents
perceived changes in their children’s emotional state and behaviors during the quarantine. The most
frequent symptoms were difficulty concentrating (76.6%), boredom (52%), irritability (39%),
restlessness (38.8%), nervousness (38%), feelings of loneliness (31.3%), uneasiness (30.4%), and
worries (30.1%). Spanish parents reported more symptoms than Italians. As expected, children of
both countries used monitors more frequently, spent less time doing physical activity, and slept
more hours during the quarantine. Furthermore, when family coexistence during quarantine became
more difficult, the situation was more serious, and the level of stress was higher, parents tended to
report more emotional problems in their children. The quarantine impacts considerably on Italian
and Spanish youth, reinforcing the need to detect children with problems as early as possible to
improve their psychological well-being.

www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/coronavirus-covid-19/
healthy-living/coronavirus-covid-19-physical-activity (26th October 2020)
Being active outdoors
If you don't have any coronavirus symptoms, you can go outdoors to be active as much as you like
throughout the day.
Walking, jogging or cycling are a great way to be active and get some fresh air and sunlight.
Non contact and contact sports are permitted for under 18s only indoors and outdoors. Over 18s
can't currently take part in group physical activity indoors or outdoors.
Field bubbles are created to allow under-18s to be active in contact sports but all participants should
physically distance when off the field of play and should follow strict hygiene rules.
To find out more visit Sport Scotland for specific sport guidance.

www.athleticsireland.ie/news/coronavirus-covid-19-update/
Ireland regulations per COVID-19 and sport

https://ourworldindata.org/mortality-risk-covid#case-fatality-rate-of-covid-19-by-age
www.statista.com/statistics/1105596/covid-19-mortality-rate-by-age-group-in-spain-march/
Based on the graph provided, the risk for anyone 19 and under dying is practically 0%.

www.who.int/news/item/25-11-2020-every-move-counts-towards-better-health-says-who
W.H.O. on physical activity

www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/COVID-19/Pages/Why-Cloth-Face-Coverings-are-Needed-in-Youth-Sports-During-COVID-19.aspx
From the American Academy of Pediatrics

Here are my questions. Feel free to add.

1. *Statement* It is understood that the Ministry of Health (GOTT) has mandated no contact
sport participation.

2. Has the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GOTT) conducted or has been conducting any
research specific to the effect of the Coronavirus Pandemic on children and adolescent age
groups?

3. Is there any indication that persons under the age of 18 are the main perpetrators of the
spreading of Coronavirus? If yes, please present the pertinent the data. If no, please state, to
the best of your knowledge of the data, how those persons got infected.

4. Based on the information from the CDC (US) and W.H.O. what is the major concern with
persons under 18 participating in contact sport?

5. Please list the contact sports that are banned or suspended under the current regulations:

(football, netball, basketball, field hockey, karate (judo, mixed martial arts), rugby, boxing,
volleyball, handball, futsal, cricket, water polo, athletics, cycling, gyms* (fitness), horse
racing (there may be more, please wait for their answer).

6. What are the current regulations in terms of group settings?

7. Do those regulations also apply to groups that would like to take part in contact sports? If
yes/no, explain based on the data from the CDC, W.H.O and countries who have insisted
that youth participation in contact sport (sport in general) must continue, such as US,
England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, China.

8. Based on the research and data provided, children and adolescents are being severely
affected by the current Coronavirus Pandemic and the measures that have been undertaken
by multiple governments around the world. What has the GOTT implemented to help those
persons who may be experiencing significant mental challenges and stress due in part to the
regulations and information being given distributed by the GOTT (quarantine, lock-down,
social (physical) distance, stay home, etc.)?

9. Has the GOTT given any thought to reversing the ban or suspension of contact sport
especially for children and adolescents based on the data provided by the CDC and W.H.O?

10. A directive has been given by the GOTT to resume national athlete and team training for
senior teams. Why not the junior teams if the risk to persons in those age groups is low?

11. Specifically speaking, football is most likely the sport with the highest level of youth
participation (N.B. athletics is a multiple sport discipline better known as Track and Field) in
Trinidad and Tobago. Grouped together with all team sports, approximately 60-70% of
children and adolescents are being affected negatively, as their main source of physical
activity is not available. Additionally, available data on children who stop being physically
active for extended periods of time are less likely to return to participation in an active
lifestyle. Has the GOTT taken this into account with the ban on contact sport?

12. Has the GOTT been able to determine the capability of the non-contact NSO’s and NGO’s
to absorb none/some/most/all of the children and adolescents who have been left without
their regular sport participation environment?

13. Is the GOTT addressing this particular situation actively with all NSO’s, NGO’s and local
regional government organisations and the THA?

14. Is there any data being collected that the GOTT can share per the increase/decrease of all
persons actively exercising due to the Coronavirus? This information should also include
children and adolescents who cannot participate in sport due to the contact sport ban but are
exercising otherwise.

15. Has the GOTT estimated the cost to the local sporting fraternity of both lock-downs and the
subsequent ban on contact sport (all age groups)?

16. What strategic plan/plan does the GOTT have to rebuild sport and participation of sport in
Trinidad and Tobago?

15

Football / Re: FIFA suspends the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association

« on: October 03, 2020, 07:56:22 AM »

Piece dey Lasana..... Let dem think hard about the things they are not doing.

What crisis? Wired868 explains why almost everyone’s reading the TTFA-Fifa impasse wrong.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).

As the clock ticks on the impasse between Fifa and the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA), the future of the ‘beautiful game’ on these shores is at stake—but not for the reason that most think.

The TTFA, despite the shrill bleating of uninformed voices, is not hamstrung by a legal stalemate. Rather it is paralysed by a glaring lack of analysis.

The TTFA Constitution states that an extraordinary general meeting, which has the power to order or remove any elected officer of the local football body, must be convened within 10 to 30 days of a request by member delegates.

So why are the likes of interim Pro League chairman Brent Sancho and Men’s National Under-17 head coach Angus Eve talking about the negative impact that a suspension can bring in 2021? Why stand outside of a house screaming and hurtling abuse at the occupants when you have a key in your pocket to enter?

At present, TTFA president William Wallace is contending that the local football body’s constitution does not permit an external body—yes, even Fifa—to remove its elected officers.

But do you know what Wallace has not argued? Neither he nor anybody else has said the member delegates cannot move him.

There is no dictatorship here. Only grown men and women who seem either unwilling to read or incapable of understanding a fairly straightforward document, or who insist on sitting on their hands and waiting for an external party to fly in and solve their problems.

Article 29.2-4 of the TTFA Constitution states:

‘The Board of Directors shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting if a majority (more than 50%) of the accredited delegates to the General Meeting make such a request in writing. The request shall specify the items for the agenda.

‘An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be held within 30 days of receipt of the request,  unless the agenda includes the election of members of the Board of Directors or the members of the Electoral Committee, in which case the Extraordinary General Meeting shall be held within 60 days of receipt of the request.

‘If an Extraordinary General Meeting is not convened within the indicated time, the delegates who requested it may convene the Extraordinary General Meeting themselves. As a last resort, the Members may request assistance from Fifa and Concacaf.

‘The Members shall be notified of the place, date and agenda at least 10 days before the date of an Extraordinary General Meeting.

‘When an Extraordinary General Meeting is convened on the initiative of the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall draw up the agenda. When an Extraordinary General Meeting is convened upon the request of Members, the agenda shall contain the points raised by those Members.’

The High Court is due to rule on 9 October whether Fifa can legally remove the TTFA’s elected officers, through the implementation of a normalisation committee.

If Wallace and his remaining vice-presidents Clynt Taylor and Sam Phillip lose the case, the TTFA immediately falls under the control of Fifa—with two months left before the new 18 December deadline to ‘lift’ the current suspension and be confirmed for the Concacaf 2021 Gold Cup qualifying phase.

Should Wallace prevail, he promised to immediately call a proper EGM for direction from members. He can do so within 10 days, which means if the likes of Sancho and interim Veterans Footballers Foundation president Selby Browne want to see the back of him, they can remove him between 20 October and 9 November.

Again, there would still be more than enough time for members to prostrate themselves before Fifa president Gianni Infantino if they so desire.

If it is so simple to remove Wallace and his colleagues, you might ask, why has it not been done already? Well, ask Infantino.

For the Fifa president, who is currently under criminal investigation in his homeland, Trinidad and Tobago always seemed to represent something more than a professional relationship.

Former TTFA president David John-Williams, also supposedly the target of a corruption probe, was the first Caribbean football leader to pledge support for Infantino—when he ran to replace Sepp Blatter at the helm of Fifa in 2016.

And John-Williams claimed to have Infantino’s support when, that same year, he unsuccessfully contested the position of Caribbean Football Union (CFU) presidency.

It’s a matter of public record too that Infantino refused to act on several emails from TTFA board members urging a probe into John-Williams’ handling of the Home of Football construction. And, six days before last November’s TTFA election, the Fifa president was in Couva urging stakeholders to share his faith in ‘DJW’.

All of which to say that Infantino’s investment in Trinidad and Tobago is unusual and has never been about the benefit of the twin island republic—as a cursory glance at the TTFA’s record on and off the field under John-Williams will testify.

Infantino’s curious relationship with DJW and the TTFA might help explain why, instead of having the Member Associations read the riot act to the new TTFA administration, the Fifa jefe opted for the knife of the seven-member Bureau of the Fifa Council and ‘normalisation’ instead.

That intervention did not work as smoothly as Infantino might have expected and the Fifa president repeatedly bungled attempts to ‘bring the TTFA in-line’ ever since.

Meanwhile, the TTFA’s member delegates have been passive observers of the struggle, watching with popcorn in hand and no apparent interest beyond finding out the date for their next football match. (Apart, of course, from Sancho and his frantic but thoughtless efforts to prove himself useful to Fifa.)

All the while, they ignore Infantino’s clay feet as well as their own culpability in the farce.

Accustomed only to submission, Trinidad and Tobago administrators appear to lack the clarity of thought and/or self-belief to chart their own destiny—despite having the means to do so. They are in a cage of their own ignorance, yet, ironically, talk about passing on lessons to the nation’s youth.

Who has the power to straighten out Trinidad and Tobago’s football?

On this evidence, it is neither Infantino nor Wallace. But the people running about like headless chickens, screaming to be allowed into an open house.

To paraphrase Football Referees Association vice-president Osmond Downer, the people who are letting our young footballers down are the ones who want to lead, but not to read.

If Infantino wanted regime change, he might have done so long ago by leaking information of Wallace’s own violations and giving local delegates a nudge. But, apparently, that did not suffice. He seemed to want to ‘discipline’ Trinidad and Tobago for not electing the president of his choice on 24 November 2019; and, blinded by the infinite powers he thought he had, overreached.

Somehow, six months after the Bureau announced a normalisation committee in Trinidad and Tobago, Infantino remains unable to get the better of a former school teacher in charge of a functionally bankrupt organisation who showed himself to be anything but a shrewd negotiator in his handling of TTFA business this far.

Of course, this can only end one way. Local football will be under new leadership long before Christmas. But Wallace’s court actions will ensure that his eviction is done by his compatriots and not foreigners who almost certainly do not have Trinidad and Tobago’s interests at heart.

Does that matter? Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion on that score. However, if the aim is to bring the era of the United TTFA slate to an end, member delegates should close their mouths and use their brains.

Open question to Brent Sancho: if TTFA delegates sent a request for an EGM to Hadad, and High Court Judge Carol Gobin said it was addressed to the wrong leader; who do you think is the right person to send that motion to?

Tick tock…

16

General Discussion / Re: Coronavirus Thread.

« on: March 23, 2020, 05:20:48 PM »

China's winning the 'superpower' game being played. It's hard not to notice this.

17

Football / Re: Jaiye Shep­pard Thread.

« on: February 07, 2020, 05:01:49 AM »

Who is he? What has he done and why does he have his own thread?

Jaiye Sheppard

He was also 2019 SSFL overall MVP, top scorer and top five players as well as a T&T Under 17 and Under 15 team standout.... won the SSFL Premier league in 2018 and the 2019 Intercol titles for Pres which he was instrumental in.....

He is from Tobago (Roxborough), left-footed and before making the sacrifice to leave home and head to Trinidad to play for Pres Sando, he suited up for Scarborough Secondary.

At 15 he played for Tobago Phoenix and Roxborough Lakers in the TFA Premier division league. Doc might know more about him.

I took a chance with Che Benny and created a thread as well but that didn't go well or not as yet I hope....

I normally take a chance with players who I have a hunch for....

Isa Bramble, Justin Araujo-Wilson, Shoaib Khan, Kai Phillip (good striker), Tyrese Spicer, Aleem Barclay, Tyrike Andrews, Justin Cornwall, Kaihim Thomas (dead ball specialist), Nathaniel James, Ackeel Jacob, Mark Ramdeen, Isaiah Williams (GK) and Molik Khan is other SSFL standouts I have my eyes on....

We have a decent bunch of SSFL players, if we could somehow try to nurture that.

 

okay thanks for this information

He was 14 when he entered the U17 program. I think Jaiye was the 2nd youngest player in that pool I believe.

18

Football / Re: The Futsal Team Thread

« on: February 07, 2020, 04:55:17 AM »

Futsal screening sessions for T&T national men's senior team in preparation for World Cup qualifiers in May 2020. The World Cup will be held in Lituania from 12th September to the 4th October.

Saturday 8th February
Southern Regional Indoor Sport Arena, Pleasantville
10am

Tuesday 11th and Thursday 13th February
Central Regional Indoor Sport Arena, Chaguanas
6pm

Saturday 15th February
Montgomery Recreational Courts, Montgomery
630pm

Sunday 16th February
Eastern Regional Indoor Sport Arena, Tacarigua
10am

North Zone venue and date TBD.

19

Football / Re: 2019 SSFL & Inter-Col Thread.

« on: November 27, 2019, 04:30:31 AM »

It is clear that the SSFL is an incubator of talent but it is not a comprehensive development tool or solution for building a NT ready player.

Too true. The next two years will be critical in this area.

20

Football / Re: TTFA Presidency Polls; The countdown to election begins.

« on: November 24, 2019, 01:31:34 PM »

TTFA fb page and Look Loy himself 

WILLIAM WALLACE IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE TTFA. Good riddance DJW!

Your source? I aint celebrating as yet..

21

Football / Re: TTFA League of Champions

« on: November 06, 2019, 06:08:17 PM »

The national U20's. Can anyone give a full readout of the possible college/university eligibility fall out from taking part in this 'league'?

22

Football / Re: U-15 Men's Football Team Thread

« on: August 05, 2019, 10:39:08 AM »

T&T 1 (Wilson, 35th min) vs BAR 0 HT

T&T 1 vs 1 BAR (Butcher 65th min)

T&T 1 vs 1 BAR FT

23

Football / Re: U-15 Men's Football Team Thread

« on: August 05, 2019, 10:31:51 AM »

T&T 1 (Wilson, 35th min) vs BAR 0 HT

)

T&T 1 vs 1 BAR (Butcher 65th min)

24

Football / Re: U-15 Men's Football Team Thread

« on: August 05, 2019, 10:00:57 AM »

T&T 1 (Wilson, 35th min) vs BAR 0 HT

25

Football / Re: U-15 Men's Football Team Thread

« on: August 04, 2019, 08:23:20 AM »

3-0 final score. Missed penalty and a few chances as well.

26

Football / Re: U-15 Men's Football Team Thread

« on: August 04, 2019, 07:19:17 AM »

3-0 CR already. 19th min.

27

Football / Re: U-15 Men's Football Team Thread

« on: July 20, 2019, 06:32:17 AM »

wait who is these boys nutritionist and physical trainers, against Vene dey looking like primary school kids getting out-muscled all over d pitch, yuh would swear we is d ones with severe food shortages 

0-3 steups two years, no tactical drilling, physically weak, terrible

From Wired 868.com: Molino strikes as T&T tie Guyana; DJW absolves himself and Lawrence of blame
June 26, 2019

"And John-Williams, who previously described the Men’s National Senior Team as his ‘flagship team’ advised fans to pay attention to their Boys’ National Under-15 Team instead.

“Un­der this ad­min­is­tra­tion, we have de­lib­er­ate­ly said that we are go­ing to build from the ground up,” he told the Guardian. “I have said it, from the first day of my tenure, but I will close by say­ing watch our Un­der-15s play Mex­i­co, Venezuela and Pana­ma come Ju­ly.

“I think it will be some­thing in­ter­est­ing for the pub­lic to see where we have been chan­nelling our en­er­gies.”

We're watching....

28

Football / Re: U-15 Men's Football Team Thread

« on: July 17, 2019, 07:28:38 PM »

now 5-4

T&T U15 conceeded 3 unanswered goals....
3-2
3-3 (almost immediately after scoring)
3-4 (2 mins later)
3-5...... (3 mins later)
.....4-5

29

Football / Re: U-15 Men's Football Team Thread

« on: July 17, 2019, 06:50:45 PM »

Delayed on TV6

30

Football / Re: The 10 ways of how you can sabotage a Football team....

« on: June 24, 2019, 07:41:38 PM »

Why do you give DJW such an out? This entire debacle is DJW's making. He's an ignorant narcissist, not content of being master of his own domain, dragging down T&T football with him. All roads lead from him - he's made such a shambles of our finances that no one would take the job without being paid from FIFA.

How am I giving him an out? When I just stated he is a sell out? He’s controlled, say what you like, but there’s no president that stands to make profits from a losing team, unless betting, bribery and corruption is involved. For donkey years we had super talented players without  a great coach to harness that talent and take them to the next level, we saw it with beenhakker and it was just a glimpse, we started seeing it with hart and then they destroyed that, deliberately

I’m not a conspiracy theorist and that word has been used to distract and lessen the truth and cover up the corruption

seriously mate sometimes you make me wonder about your sanity. I don’t know how long ago you think hart was here so that we’ve lost our memories of his performance especially in his last few outings, but I remembered it like yesterday. hart loss his last 8 games in charge and it seemed like he also was losing the dressing room with the carenage crew (jovin, cato, peltier and molino) losing interest in representing the country.

hart failed to qualify for the Copa centenario three times the last outing losing to Haiti in Panama.he also failed to qualify for the gold cup getting beat out by martinique in martinique, surprisingly he was given another chance to start the hex which he loss two games in a row which proven to be the straw that broke the camel’s back. in all honesty i though DJW was very patient with him giving him time after time to get it together.

in the end hart was figured out by his opponents and teams actually found a way to counteract his method of approach which consequently rendered him winless in his last 8 outings. I believe if hart was winning DJW would have let him be to continue coaching the national team, but hart started losing very important games and Williams canned him, it’s as simple as that.

You forgot to mention Hart was being undercut in plain view of all. He went winless in matches because he simply couldn't function when the DJW was bold enough to request an extra international match on a 3 (match I believe) tour that went from T&T to Asia in about 10 days.