A group of concerned citizens started gathering signatures last week for a petition to send to Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and other legislators requesting high school student-athletes be granted the opportunity to play this fall.

Jackson County commissioner Rick Dyer started the “Let Them Play In Oregon!” petition along with others last week as news of the Phase 2 reopening guidelines were announced. Gov. Brown’s reopening guidelines state that recreational sports and activities will be allowed to take place under certain health restrictions.

Although, a line in the Phase 2 guidelines states “sports that involve participants coming into bodily contact are prohibited at this time.” Taken literally, that could include nearly all sports, especially football and wrestling.

The governor has said that the state will not advance into Phase 3 of the reopening process until a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19 is available. Scientists have said it could take months or a year before a successful vaccine is available, meaning some sports could be halted for the foreseeable future.

Yet, Dyer says he was told by aides of Gov. Brown that exceptions will be made for college sports to resume play in the fall. That led to a change.org petition where Dyer and others are requesting that Gov. Brown lift the lockdown on youth sports in Oregon.

The petition eclipse its goal and is over 10,000 signatures. Visit LetThemPlayOregon.com for more details.