How the Soap Box Derby Functions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

When the coronavirus pandemic hit the world one of the industries that got hit the hardest by the pandemic was the sports industry. When the pandemic arrived in the United States, we saw the NBA, MLB, NHL, and MLS postpone or cancel many of their planned games. On an international level we saw the 2020 Tokyo Olympics be postponed and major leagues like the Premiere League or La Liga having to temporarily stop playing. Although by summertime the NBA, NHL, and MLS had resumed playing by having the rest of their season held in a bubble with no fans to protect the players and staff from coronavirus. This switch led to these professional sports leagues being able to return to play. 

Although there are many more sports leagues in the United States than just the major professional sports leagues. Many of these amateur or youth sports leagues also got hit by the pandemic hard with many states banning gatherings of people or limiting the size of gatherings. One of these youth and amateur sports leagues that got hit hard by the pandemic was the All-American Soap Box Derby.

The All-American Soap Box Derby is different than most youth sports league for the sole fact that it takes place on a national level rather than just being your local city’s soccer league. In the All-American Soap Box Derby racers travel throughout their state and throughout the country to accumulate points to race in the national championships in Akron, Ohio. 

Back in the spring with many states going into lockdowns almost all races throughout the country had to be canceled. Then by the time for the July championships the All-American Soap Box Derby decided that it was not safe to hold championship and cancelled it. By fall time many states had started to reopen, but not all, and every state has different COVID-19 rules and laws in place. This has led to the All-American Soap Box Derby to have to take on the difficult task of coming up with a return to race plan that lets all racers around the nation return to racing.