WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Do not expect this spring to be the last high school sports season impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
That is the sobering takeaway from a 14-page report issued Tuesday by the National Federation of High School Associations in Indianopolis.
The national group's Sports Medicine Advisory Committee wrote the report to advise the NFHS' 51 member state associations as they think about a phased return to interscholastic athletics in consultation with state health departments.
"It is important to be clear that this is guidance for individual states to consider as they return to activities this fall," NFHS Executive Director Karissa Niehoff said in a letter accompanying the report. "States will utilize the guidance in this document as it best fits their state after consulting with local and state health departments."
Among other things, the report recommends that state associations consider different timetables for the resumption of sports with a relatively low risk of virus transmission — like golf and certain socially-distanced track and field events — and sports with a relatively high risk of transmission, like football and wrestling.
"The NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee utilized recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as some return-to-play considerations by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee in formulating this guidance document for re-opening athletics and other activities in our nation's schools," Niehoff wrote.
Although the report is advisory and non-binding on the national group's member organizations, it likely will get a long look from officials at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, operating in one of the states hardest hit by the novel coronavirus.
Much of the report focuses on proposed guidelines around the use of face coverings and general hygiene, including cleaning practices for facilities and equipment.
The NFHS report notes that phasing of a return to normal activity will vary from state to state, but it lays out suggested practices for three different phases for its members to consider.
Phase 1, the most restrictive, would limit gatherings to more than 10 people at a time and restrict workouts to "'pods' of students with the same five to 10 students always working together." During this period, all equipment, including balls, would be cleaned between uses by individuals; in other words, to give an example from the report, "A volleyball player should not use a single ball that others touch or hit in any manner."
In Phase 2, groups would be limited to 10 people indoors, but up to 50 could gather outdoors for workouts, and locker rooms could begin to be used. As for balls, they could be shared, but they must be "cleaned intermittently during practices and contests."
Phase 3 would see gathering sizes of up to 50 people, inside or out, but "when not directly participating in practices or contests," social distancing should be maintained. Hand sanitizer should continue to "be plentiful at all contests and practices," among other accommodations.
One thing was clear from the report: The medical experts at the national federation do not expect the pandemic to magically come to end before the start of fall sports.
"Due to the near certainty of recurrent outbreaks this coming fall and winter in some locales, state associations must be prepared for periodic school closures and the possibility of some teams having to isolate for two to three weeks while in-season," the report reads.
"Until a cure, vaccine or very effective treatment is readily available, or so-called 'herd immunity' is confidently reached, social distancing and other preventive measures such as face covering will be a 'new normal' if workouts, practices and contests are to continue."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Mount Greylock 3rd Quarter Honor Roll
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.— The total school enrollment is 553 of which 338 have made Honor Roll for the 3rd quarter.
Grade 12
Ava Anagnos, Lex Anagnos, Thomas Art, Jude Bakija, Phoebe Barnes, Liam Berryman, Mirabel Boyer,
Jacqueline Brannan, Emma Brennan, Jose Brito, Kaylie Bryan, Dominic Carnevale, Sylvie Clowes, Levi
Cohen-McFall, Julia DeChaine, Benjamin Dingman, Karlie Dowling, Emily Dupuis, Olivia Filiault, Belen
Galvez, Louis Gotlieb, Che Guerra, Emma Kate Hane, Phoebe Hughes, Jason Jaros, Shea Johnson, Talia
Kapiloff, Ece Karakaya, Erin Keating, Ryan Keating, Luka Lash-St. John, Caleb Low, Cecilia Malone,
Town meeting voters will be asked Monday to approve a request to change state law in a way that will preserve education at Hancock Elementary School. click for more
The Charter Review Committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to endorse an amended version of the compliance provision it drafted to be added to the Town Charter. click for more
Developer David Traggorth asked the trustees to make the contribution from its coffers to help unlock an additional $5.4 million in state funds for the planned 54-unit apartment building at the south end of the Cable Mills site.
click for more
The donors, who wish to remain anonymous, say the gift reflects their desire to not only support Williams but also President Maud S. Mandel's strategic vision and plan for the college.
click for more