A lot has changed within the last week as guidelines for the return of high school sports and the management of coronavirus continue to rapidly evolve.
Last Friday, the MHSAA released a 10-page set of guidelines that might have been difficult for some to absorb. In particular, it was a lot for athletic directors, coaches and athletes to digest. When Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lifted the stay-at-home order on Monday this week, it left many wondering how high school sports should proceed.
With outdoor-only gatherings of 100 people or less allowed, MHSAA member schools may begin summer activities at school facilities as long as the school district has declared school facilities open to students and staff after the end of the current academic school year (last day of online instruction/exams). Under current orders, only outdoor school facilities may be used if both conditions above have been met. Also, pre-workout screenings will become part of common practice until it is deemed no longer required.
Activities must be done with physical distancing of six feet and all athletic equipment, including balls, should be cleaned intermittently during practices and workouts. All MHSAA out-of-season summer coaching regulations continue to apply, meaning all workouts must remain voluntary and not hold any weight in team selection.
Here is a sport-by-sport breakdown of what is allowed, as described by the MHSAA in its Summer Guidance Update #1 listed on the MHSAA’s Health & Safety webpage (can be viewed in full and downloaded here).
LOW RISK SPORTS
Cross Country, Golf, Sideline Cheer, Skiing, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track & Field
Cross Country and Track & Field: Runners should maintain at least 6 feet of physical distancing between individuals, no grouping (i.e., starts and finishes). For track and field, no sharing of implements/equipment. Padded equipment should be cleaned between uses. Common equipment such as relay batons should be cleaned intermittently during practices and workouts.
Golf: Maintain appropriate physical distancing 6 feet apart.
Sideline Cheer: No physical contact - chants and jumps, only, with physical distancing.
Swimming: Some outdoor pools will open; indoor pools remain closed. Swim relays need to maintain physical distance. Divers must use physical distancing when waiting for the board. Activity must take place outdoors.
Tennis: Must keep physical distance if playing singles and doubles. Wipe down rackets and clean balls after use.
MODERATE RISK SPORTS
Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Girls Lacrosse, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Volleyball
Baseball: All players must be physically distant. Players should not share gloves, batting gloves, helmets and catcher’s equipment. Common equipment, such as the ball, must be cleaned as permitted during a practice or workout session.
Basketball: Drills are allowed that keep all players physically distant; there should be no physical contact or close proximity of players. Common equipment, such as the ball, must be cleaned as permitted during a practice or workout. Activity must take place outdoors.
Bowling: Indoor bowling centers remained closed.
Girls Lacrosse: Drills are allowed that keep all players physically distant; there should be no physical contact or close proximity of players. Common equipment, such as the ball, must be cleaned as permitted during a practice or workout. Players should not share lacrosse sticks.
Gymnastics: Equipment must be cleaned between rotations of athletes. Physical distancing must be maintained. Training must take place outdoors.
Ice Hockey: Indoor rinks remain closed. If an outdoor rink is used for roller hockey, drills are allowed that keep all players physically distant and there should be no physical contact or close proximity of players. Common equipment, such as the puck, must be cleaned as permitted during a practice or workout. Players should not share hockey sticks.
Soccer: Drills are allowed that keep all players physically distant; there should be no physical contact or close proximity of players. Common equipment, such as the ball, must be cleaned as permitted during a practice or workout session.
Softball: All players must be physically distant. Players should not share gloves, batting gloves, helmets and catcher’s equipment. Common equipment, such as the ball, must be cleaned as permitted during a practice or workout session.
Volleyball: Drills are allowed that keep all players physically distant; there should be no physical contact or close proximity of players. Common equipment, such as the ball, must be cleaned as permitted during a practice or workout session. Activity must take place outdoors.
HIGHER RISK SPORTS
Boys Lacrosse, Competitive Cheer, Football, Wrestling
Boys Lacrosse: Drills are allowed that keep all players physically distant; there should be no physical contact or close proximity of players. Common equipment, such as the ball, must be cleaned as permitted during a practice or workout. Contact with other players is not allowed. Players should not share lacrosse sticks or face off.
Competitive Cheer: Conditioning and individual technique/choreography work. No physical contact- chants and jumps, only, with physical distancing. Activity must take place outdoors.
Football: Drills are allowed that keep all players physically distant; there should be no physical contact or close proximity of players. Common equipment, such as the ball, must be cleaned as permitted during a practice or workout. Contact with other players is not allowed, and there should be no use of tackling dummies/shields/sleds. Protective equipment other than helmets is prohibited; helmets may not be shared.
Wrestling: Conditioning, mirror drills with spacing, no contact. Wrestlers may drill without touching a teammate (as long as physical distancing is adhered to). Activity must take place outdoors.
PRE-WORKOUT SCREENINGS
One of the potentially more difficult aspects that currently challenges coaches and schools alike is providing proper pre-workout screenings.
According to the MHSAA, all coaches and students should be screened daily for signs or symptoms of COVID-19 prior to participating, including a temperature check. This check may take place onsite or be completed and verified prior to arrival onsite (at home, for example). Anyone with a temperature of greater than 100.3 degrees should not participate and be sent home. Responses to screening questions for each person should be recorded and stored so that there is a record of everyone present in case a student develops COVID-19. These records must be kept confidential.
Any person with positive symptoms reported should not be allowed to participate, should self-isolate, and contact their primary care provider or other health-care professional. Involve local health departments if positive cases of COVID are discovered. Vulnerable individuals should not supervise or participate in any workouts. School districts will make the decision on vulnerable individuals.
Here is a suggested Pre-Workout Screening form:
The MHSAA is requiring sports teams conduct pre-workout screenings of coaches and athletes in order to look for symptoms of COVID-19. This is one of the initial requirements as the MHSAA adapts to evolving coronavirus restrictions heading into the summer of 2020. This picture is an example pre-workout screening form released by the MHSAAMHSAA
KEY GUIDELINES TO FOLLOW
- No use of indoor facilities.
- No gathering of more than 100 people at a time outdoors. Locker rooms may not be utilized during this step. Students should report to workouts in proper gear and immediately return home to shower at end of the workout. Workouts should be conducted in “pods” of students with the same small group of students always working out together. This ensures more limited exposure if someone develops an infection. There must be a minimum distance of 6 feet between individuals at all times.
- Locker rooms should not be used. Students should report in appropriate attire and immediately return home to shower after participation. No students allowed in a training area unless the athletic trainer is present.
- CLEANING: Adequate cleaning schedules should be created and implemented for all athletic facilities. Prior to an individual or groups of individuals entering a facility, hard surfaces within that facility should be wiped down and sanitized (benches, weight equipment, bathrooms, athletic training room tables, etc.). Individuals should wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds with warm water and soap or hand sanitizer before touching any surfaces or participating in workouts. Hand sanitizer should be plentiful and available to individuals as they transfer from place to place. Appropriate clothing/shoes should be worn at all times to minimize sweat from transmitting onto equipment/surfaces. Any equipment such as athletic pads, etc., having holes with exposed foam should be covered. Students must be encouraged to shower and wash their workout clothing immediately upon returning to home.
- FACE COVERINGS: When it comes to wearing face masks, all the current state, local or school district guidelines must be followed. Exceptions are swimming, distance running or other high-intensity aerobic activity. Plastic shields covering the entire face will not be allowed during participation due to the risk of unintended injury to the person wearing the shield or others. Coaches, officials and all other personnel are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings at all times and are strongly encouraged to wear cloth face coverings whenever physical distancing is not possible. Artificial noisemakers such as an air horn or a timer system with an alarm can be used to signal in place of a traditional whistle.
- MORE SOCIAL DISTANCING: Physical contact such as handshakes, high-fives, fist bumps, and hugs should not be allowed. All athletic equipment, including balls, should be cleaned intermittently during practices and contests. They must be cleaned after final use. Students should wear their own appropriate workout clothing and here should be no shared athletic equipment (towels, clothing, shoes, or sport-specific equipment) when possible between students. All personal clothing, towels and equipment must be cleaned at home. Individual drills requiring the use of athletic equipment are permissible, but the equipment should be cleaned prior to use by the next individual. Resistance training should be emphasized through the use of body weight and resistance bands.
MORE
Michigan high schools can begin summer athletic activities under two conditions
Michigan coronavirus stay-at-home order lifted: Here’s what opens when
Coaches, athletic directors react to MHSAA’s reopening and summer guidelines
MHSAA releases guidelines, timelines for return of sports
Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus
Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
"current" - Google News
June 05, 2020 at 01:05AM
https://ift.tt/2UbHmrV
Here is what each MHSAA sport is allowed to do under current coronavirus guidelines - MLive.com
"current" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3b2HZto
https://ift.tt/3c3RoCk
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Here is what each MHSAA sport is allowed to do under current coronavirus guidelines - MLive.com"
Post a Comment