Independent journalist Tim Bannon and his team of reporting interns investigated the safety of for-profit youth sports. Concerns being examined included COVID-19 protocols at tournaments, injuries, the high price of entry, and other safety issues.
向日葵视频students Margaret Cahill and Amanda Parrish collaborated with Bannon on the series.
The of the series was published in September 2020. It examined COVID-19 precautions at for-profit youth tournaments. The reporting team found little masking, inconsistent rules and loose enforcement despite a high awareness from participants surrounding the risks.
The team continued to examine how sports were affected as they moved indoors for the winter.
In April 2021, they reported in depth on how the high cost of some youth sports leaves behind families without adequate resources.
In March 2021, the reporting team earned an Award for Excellence in Coverage of Youth Sports from the for their work on the series. The award recognizes creative, in-depth and innovative coverage of youth and high school sports by broadcast, print and online journalists.
September 11, 2020
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January 29, 2021
April 29, 2021
