Lifestyle Sport Returns After COVID-19 Shutdown
The soundtrack of the South Bay – the familiar “thump, thump, thump-thump-thump” of beach volleyballs being hit from morning until sunset – is back in Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, CA.
People are on the sand playing beach volleyball again, a welcome activity and sight for locals who were denied their favorite pastime during the COVID-19 shutdown.
After The Strand reopened in early June, people started putting up their own nets and playing the game they love so much. The county, however, has not yet given its approval (see comments below). But that’s not stopping people from getting out and enjoying this big part of the Beach Cities lifestyle.
On Tuesday, June 9, Hermosa Beach made this announcement:
“Mayor Submits Request for Expanded Beach and Recreational Activities: L.A. County’s Public Health Officer is expected to issue an amended Public Health Order this week that would permit the re-opening of additional business sectors that were restricted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In coordination with mayors of the South Bay Beach Cities, Hermosa Beach Mayor Mary Campbell sent a letter this afternoon requesting the amended L.A. County Public Health Order to permit additional active and passive beach and recreational activities with adherence to physical distancing protocols. Recognizing that day camps are expected to be permitted with the amended health order, and most camps involve the beach and many recreational activities, the letter includes a request to allow informal outdoor recreation activities limited to groups of 10 or less – and would include activities such as volleyball, basketball, baseball, soccer, beach tennis, skate parks, and lawn bowling. Organized sports such as tournaments/ leagues/coaching/special events are not part of the request unless they remain at 10 or less people. Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach mayors sent similar letters to the L.A. County Department of Public Health.”
“It’s good,” one beach volleyball-crazed resident posted on his Facebook account. “It’s good physically and it’s good mentally.”
Beach volleyball is as much a part of the lifestyle in these Los Angeles County towns as the sand, The Strand, the Pacific Ocean and the bars. It is a major part of the culture and courts line the beach practically every block from south Hermosa to El Porto in Manhattan Beach, a four-mile stretch of sand.
State officials have kept a ban on beach activities because they don’t want gatherings of 10 or more people and it’s hard to keep the six-foot social distancing order when you’re diving near a teammate to try and dig a volleyball to save a point.
But there are simply things that people must do for their mental health as well as their physical well-being, and in Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach that means playing beach volleyball. The game can be played with two to a side or as many as six (or even more for weekend hackers).
In typical times, groups gather with a dozen or more friends after work for games until sunset, or arrive by 8 in the morning on weekends to claim a net and space to hang out all day.
That’s not quite the case yet but the thumping sounds of volleyballs being hit is again filling the air in the South Bay.
Do you have a source link, because I’ve been continuously emailing the county of Los Angles Department of beaches and harbors and they still haven’t gotten the “Okay” to allow beach volleyball to continue. The source of your information would be extremely helpful so I could provide them with that and get the nets back up soon.
Boots on the ground is always PubClub.com’s source. The county announced beach volleyball is back as part of its press conference this week. Now about putting back up the nets, that is information PubClub does not have at the moment. People playing now have been putting up their own nets.
“Beach volleyball is still prohibited on beaches in Los Angeles County, as it is considered a group sport. Per the State of California’s health order, group sports are not permitted. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, which makes the ultimate decisions as to what’s permitted on the beaches at this time, can only make stricter rules; the Department of Public Health cannot override the state.
Once we receive the OK from the Department of Public Health, we will put the nets back on the courts at County-operated beaches. At this time, we don’t know when that will occur. Please note that we do not operate Santa Monica State Beach.
Anyone playing beach volleyball in Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach is in violation of the current Health Officer Order.”
I’ve been trying to make a case for allowing us to put our own nets but this is still the type of response I’ve been getting. 🙁
That must be an old response. The county approved it as long as it’s less than 10 people and no tournaments. Just go walk down The Strand – you’ll see tons of games taking place now. All people playing now have put up their own nets. I suggest doing the same. Good luck and good game!
Hi Kevin,
I provided that response to Raul yesterday.
Your information is incorrect, and I would love to know the source so I can inform them that they are mistaken. County officials never announced that beach volleyball was permitted. While we at the Department of Beaches and Harbors have been advocating for its return, our hands are tied when it comes to the health orders. Any loosening of restrictions must be done by the LA County Department of Public Health–and they can’t remove the restriction on group sports until the state removes the same restriction from the state order.
Everyone who puts up their own nets and plays is in violation of both the State and County health orders. Citations may result in fines of up to $1,000.
If you have any questions about beach operations, please email me at [email protected]. I’m happy to go over them with you.
Thank you,
Nicole Mooradian
Public Information Officer
LA County Department of Beaches & Harbors
Thank you Nicole. The information was obtained from a request from Hermosa Beach. The article has been updated to reflect the source. – PubClub.com