The Kentucky High School Athletic Association announced more detailed guidelines for the resumption of practices for fall sports. The guidelines are in effect through July 12 which is three days before the official start of practice for most fall sports.
At its Thursday board of control meeting, the KHSAA voted to eliminate the summer dead period for 2020 meaning once athletes begin workouts and practices, there will be not shutdown period. Normally, the dead period runs June 25-July 9.
The KHSAA also reaffirmed Thursday that they not contradict any orders and guidelines established by the state and Governor Andy Beshear. They added they cannot override an order of the Governor without significant risk.
The KHSAA also stressed that all involvement by students is voluntary without repercussion for failure to attend. The opening of on-campus facilities for practices is at the discretion of each school district.
The KHSAA plans to issue an update about what July 13 and beyond will look like in the coming weeks. Commissioner Julian Tackett has told schools to have a contingency plan available for schedules in case the season does not start on time in August.
Here are the guidelines as set down for soccer
An up-to-date physical is required before any athlete can begin practices
No gatherings of 10 or more people will be allowed before June 29
Six-foot social distancing must be practiced
Coaches, officials and other contest personnel may wear cloth face coverings at all times and are strongly encouraged to wear cloth face coverings especially whenever physical distancing is not possible
All students must bring their own water bottle. Water bottles must not be shared. Food should not be shared. Hydration stations (water cows, water trough, water fountains, etc.) should not be utilized.
June 1-14
School coaches and representatives can have face-to-face contact with students, but no practices are allowed.
June 15-28
- May resume small group physical fitness workouts, exercises of (10) youths or fewer, with no more than one (1) adult coach per group, while following the Healthy at Work social distancing Guidelines for Groups of 10 People or Fewer.
- No competition is permitted. Skills training must be socially distanced, no touch, and low sharing, unless necessary to protect the health or safety of a youth participant.
- Multiple groups may hold small group physical fitness workouts and exercises, but groups must adhere to the social distancing guidelines in the next section.
- Any individual not essential for the conduct of these practices should not attend.
- Competition or simulated competition cannot be conducted.
June 29-July 12
- May resume team/group practices without competition.
- Youth participants should be in subdivided small groups of ten (10) youths or fewer, with no more than one (1) adult coach per group, while following the Healthy at Work social distancing Guidelines for Groups of 10 People or Fewer.
- All team/group practices are limited to fifty (50) youths or fewer, in accordance with the Healthy at Work social distancing Guidelines for Groups of 50 People or Fewer.
- Practices are limited to low touch, medium sharing activities, unless necessary to protect the health or safety of a youth participant.
SPECIFIC WEIGHT ROOM GUIDANCE
- Prioritizing the health and safety of all students and staff should remain the focus of each school and affiliated middle school. These requirements should be followed when conducting voluntary strength and conditioning sessions:
- Schools should be guided by the information contained in state guidance for fitness centers/gyms
- It is the responsibility of each KHSAA member school to comply with the above requirements.
- Each person entering the facility should have their temperature checked upon arrival with any individual with a temperature registering 100.4 degrees or above not be permitted to stay
- Hands should be washed or hand sanitizer used prior to entering the facility and touching any equipment
- Restrooms if opened should be sanitized before use and at the conclusion of the workout
- 2 people maximum on any one piece of equipment
- Spotters should wear a mask or cloth face covering
- Maintain social distance by being 6 feet apart
- Follow gathering CDC and state guidelines for groups of 10 or less students
- Groups of 10 or less should be pre-determined
- Once groups determined, students may not switch from one group to another
- Interaction between groups must be avoided
- Sessions can only include weightlifting, running, and exercises designed to promote physical fitness.
- Sport-specific drills are not permitted unless permitted during that time frame by the Governor’s order, and sport-specific equipment may not be used.
- Implement diligent and effective cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched objects and surfaces following the guidance of the CDC
- Each piece of equipment should be disinfected between each user of the equipment
- Hands should be washed or hand sanitizer used every 30 minutes
- Any equipment used should be disinfected every 30 minutes
- No shared hydrating bottles, towels, gloves, or any other personal equipment is permitted
- Coaches or other supervisory adults should wear a mask or cloth face covering
