The Maine Principals Association released updated guidance doe return to athletics today. The idea is to allow a phase 1 conditioning, strength training, & agility period of two weeks starting July 6-19, then progressing to a phase 2 which allows more activity from July 20 - August 2. After that would come Phase 3 running from August 3 - 16 with the hopes of the Phase 4 starting after that with the beginning of preseason.
After the MPA release, schools in York & Cumberland County announced they are postponing all return to play activities until August 3rd, which means those schools won't have the opportunity the MPA outlined in Phase 1 & Phase 2 today.
With the recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in the state of Maine it seems the return to activity at schools might be delayed or extended depending on the individual schools readiness.
To access the full document click below.
Below is a part of their return to physical activity from the guidance
RETURN TO PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The MPA understands that many student athletes have had limited or even no access to athletic facilities and organized activities for several months, resulting in potentially significant deconditioning. This level of deconditioning places the student athlete at high risk of overuse injuries with the return to normal activity. When considering plans for a "re-start" of sports activities, consideration must be given to the student athlete's level of conditioning. Further information concerning return to physical activity/conditioning can be found in Return to Sports and Exercise during COVID-19 Pandemic: Guidance for High School and Collegiate Athletic Programs (Return to Sports and Exercise During the COVID-19 Pandemic )
The following recommendations and guidelines contain a "phase in" approach that includes: 1) a period of voluntary non-sport specific strength, conditioning and agility training (Phase 1); 2) voluntary individual skill activity along with strength, conditioning and agility training (Phase 2); 3) a two week summer period that allows for sport specific activities (Phase3); and 4) a fall sport season (Phase 4).
Phases 1 and 2-- Conditioning, Strength Training, Agility, and Individual Skill Activity
Phases 1 and 2 should consist of a four-week period, during which, student athletes will have the opportunity to participate in activities to improve conditioning, strength, agility, and individual skill activity. The four-week period is to be broken down into two parts, with specific guidelines and recommendations implemented for each part. School and district administrators will need to determine if this will be an option on their school campuses. If so, school administrators will need to ensure that adequate staff are present during this time so that all safety precautions are met.
Phase 1 Weeks 1-2 of Conditioning, Strength Training, and Agility (July 6 -- July 19)
Use of outdoor facilities only
• Coaches must track attendance of each student and adult daily.
• Students and/or adults who have symptoms of COVID-19 illness or feel sick must stay home and only return with medical clearance.
• Students and/or adults who have symptoms after arriving at a training session must leave the site and only return with medical clearance.
• Student groups or "pods" of 10 or less need to be assigned and names recorded.
• Students stay in their "pod" for the duration of Phase 1.
• All students and adults should maintain proper social distancing (6 feet).
• Face masks/coverings are recommended when appropriate. In accordance with CDC guidance, "face coverings are not intended to protect the wearer, but rather to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 from the person wearing the mask (who may not have any symptoms of disease)." (CDC Consideration for Youth Sports, 2020) "Face coverings may be challenging for players (especially younger players) to wear while playing sports." (CDC Consideration for Youth Sports, 2020) "Face coverings should be worn by coaches, youth sports staff, officials, parents, and spectators as much as possible." (CDC Consideration for Youth Sports, 2020)
Cloth or disposable face coverings should be worn throughout each phase when not engaging in vigorous activity, such as when sitting on the bench, during chalk talks, interacting with an athletic trainer, etc.
• Medical grade face coverings are not necessary. Cloth or disposable face coverings are acceptable.
• Face coverings should not be worn when engaging in high intensity aerobic or anaerobic workouts, distance running, or swimming.
• Plastic shields covering the entire face (or attached to a helmet) shall not be allowed during contests. Their use during practices increases the risk of unintended injury to the person wearing the shield or teammates.
(2020 NFHS Guidance for Opening up High School Athletics and Activities, 2020)
• Coaches, officials, and other contest personnel should always wear cloth face coverings. (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.) (2020 NFHS Guidance for Opening up High School Athletics and Activities, 2020)
• Activities are to be limited to conditioning, strength training, and agility. No sport specific equipment or skill activity is allowed.
• Limit of one hour of activities per student per day.
• Students should bring their own water bottle. No sharing of water bottles allowed.
• Disinfectants and hand sanitizers should be available on site.
• Students and adults should practice frequent hand washing when in contact with others or with equipment (jump ropes, weights, etc.)
• Any equipment used should be sanitized after each individual use.
For guidance on use and cleaning of equipment, please reference the CDC guidelines:
https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/guidance_for_gyms_fitness_providers.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/cleaning-disinfecting-decision-tool.html
Phase 2 Weeks 3-4 of Conditioning, Strength Training, and Agility (July 20 -- August 2)
Use of indoor and outdoor facilities
Use of indoor and outdoor facilities
• Coaches should continue to track attendance of each student and adult daily.
• Students and/or adults who have symptoms of COVID-19 illness or feel sick must stay home and only return with medical clearance.
• Students and/or adults who have symptoms after arriving at a training session must leave the site and only return with medical clearance.
• Use of outdoor and/or indoor (such as weight rooms, gyms, and wrestling rooms) facilities allowed.
• Student groups or "pods" of 10 or less (indoors), but up to 50 students allowed in designated areas (outdoors).
• Students stay in their "pod" for the duration of Phase 2.
• All participants and adults should maintain proper social distancing.
• Face masks/coverings are recommended when appropriate. In accordance with CDC guidance, "face coverings are not intended to protect the wearer, but rather to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 from the person wearing the mask (who may not have any symptoms of disease)." (CDC Consideration for Youth Sports, 2020) "Face coverings may be challenging for players (especially younger players) to wear while playing sports." (CDC Consideration for Youth Sports, 2020) "Face coverings should be worn by coaches, youth sports staff, officials, parents, and spectators as much as possible." (CDC Consideration for Youth Sports, 2020)
• Cloth or disposable face coverings should be worn throughout each phase when not engaging in vigorous activity, such as when sitting on the bench, during chalk talks, interacting with an athletic trainer, etc.
• Medical grade face coverings are not necessary. Cloth or disposable face coverings are acceptable.
• Face coverings should not be worn when engaging in high intensity aerobic or anaerobic workouts, distance running, or swimming.
• Plastic shields covering the entire face (or attached to a helmet) shall not be allowed during contests. Their use during practices increases the risk of unintended injury to the person wearing the shield or teammates. (2020 NFHS Guidance for Opening up High School Athletics and Activities, 2020)
• Coaches, officials, and other contest personnel should always wear cloth face coverings. (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.) (2020 NFHS Guidance for Opening up High School Athletics and Activities, 2020)
• Activities are to be limited to conditioning, strength training, agility, and individual skill development. Individual sport specific activities and equipment will be allowed, such as individual dribbling and shooting. No form of competition (including 1v1 drills) is allowed.
• Limit of two hours of activities per student per day.
• Students should bring their own water bottles. No sharing of water bottles or other personal items allowed
• Disinfectants and hand sanitizers should be available on site.
• Students and adults should practice frequent hand washing when in contact with others or with equipment (jump ropes, weights, etc.
• Any equipment used should be sanitized after each individual use. For guidance on use and cleaning of gyms and weight rooms, please reference the CDC guidelines:
https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/guidance_for_gyms_fitness_providers.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/cleaning-disinfecting-decision-tool.html
Phase 3 Extended conditioning and acclimatization period -- Guidelines TBD
(August 3 -- Aug 16)
Phase 4 TBD