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Pixabay; macblack
Education Dive
NFHS releases high school sports guidelines during coronavirus pandemic
Shawna De La Rosa
May 22, 2020
Dive Brief:
The National Federation of State High School Associations recently
released guidelines detailing three phases of reopening for high school
sports.
During all phases, it's suggested that coaches and officials may wear
masks. The first phase will require temperature checks before workouts,
no more than 10 people gathering at one time and that "pods" of the
same 5-10 students workout together throughout the phase. There will be
no locker room use, and 6-foot distances must be maintained.
Temperature checks will continue during the second phase, but up to 50
people can gather for outdoor workouts. Socially distant locker room
use is also approved in phases two and three. In phase three, 50 or
more people can gather indoors, but a three-foot distance must be
maintained when not participating in the competition.
Dive Insight:
Until vaccines are readily available or herd immunity has been
achieved, school sports will look different. Masks will be required
during some sports, but full face masks will not be allowed during
competitions. If a team member tests positive, the entire team may need
to be quarantined. Schools must also plan for periodic closures as
individual flare-ups erupt.
Additionally, the NFHS document organizes sports in categories of
lower, moderate and higher risk, advising that lower risk sports resume
at phase 2 and moderate risk at phase 3. Presumably, higher risk sports
are not recommended until the virus is fully under control.
Lower risk: Individual running events, throwing events, individual
swimming, golf, weightlifting, alpine skiing, sideline cheer, single
sculling, cross country running with staggered starts
Moderate risk: Basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer,
water polo, gymnastics, ice hockey, field hockey, tennis, swimming
relays, pole vault, high jump, long jump, girls lacrosse, crew with two
or more rowers in shell, 7-on-7 football
Higher risk: Wrestling, football, boys lacrosse, competitive cheer, dance
In Boise, Idaho, high schools are preparing to put students back in
practice by June 1, in accordance with Gov. Brad Little’s Idaho
Rebounds plan. Games can’t be scheduled until Idaho completes stage
four of the plan, which could happen by June 27. Students will not be
able to travel outside of the immediate area for tournaments or camps,
nor can visiting teams attend camps in Boise.
Infectious disease experts question whether reopening sports is wise at
all. Dr. Richard Jackson, a former CDC official and emeritus at UCLA’s
Fielding School of Public Health said in a Los Angeles Times article
that young and fit athletes are still susceptible to complications if
they develop the virus. In South Korea, widespread testing is allowing
Korean Baseball Organization to resume training and scrimmages, but no
spectators are allowed in the stadium.
Comparatively, Major League Baseball officials are putting together a
plan but contend safety is the top priority, and a reopening would
require adherence to stringent restrictions. Quarantining entire teams
could happen if one player tests positive.
Having proven treatments in place and proof of antibodies are ultimately the way back to the field, experts say.
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