After nearly three months of no games, practices or organized workouts in Pennsylvania, Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the PIAA to begin to resume some of those activities, so long as schools have proper safety measures in place.
The guidelines from the Wolf Administration are in effect for all school sports teams (kindergarten through 12th grade) and were accepted by the PIAA and will reverse that body’s original start date of July 1 for offseason activities.
“We worked collaboratively with the Governor and the Pennsylvania Department of Education,” PIAA executive director Bob Lombardi told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Like anything, there was some give and take, but overall this is a good thing.
“This couldn’t be a ‘one size fits all’ thing, because every school, every community is so different. Individualized assessments need to be tailored to the needs of the school.”
All schools in the yellow and green phases are allowed to begin offseason workouts immediately — if their individual school district approves — but those events will be limited to student-athletes, coaches, officials and staff only. The release goes on to say that “the addition of visitors and spectators will be contingent upon future health conditions within the state and local communities.”
Every school district in District 9 is currently located in a county that has already moved into the green phase.
Melissa Mertz, the PIAA associate executive director, told The Erie Times-News that the restriction of fans is in place now because events over the next two months would not likely have fans anyways and that those limitations could change in August with the resumption of the regular season.
As of now, the PIAA states that it has every intention of conducting every fall sport that is currently on the schedule.
The first official practice date for fall sports is Aug. 17, though football teams can begin the heat acclimatization week beginning Aug. 10.
‘Week 0’ for football is set for Aug. 28, and the rest of fall sports can start their seasons on Sept. 4 though activities like tennis and golf typically begin in late August, as well.
Other dates on the August calendar include the Big 30 Charities Classic on Aug. 1 and the Varischetti Game on Aug. 7.
It’s unclear what the state’s guidance means for either of those all-star games.
THE release lists 13 bullet points that school districts must adhere to when resuming athletic activities.
Among the most notable requirements, all coaches and adult personnel must wear face coverings, unless doing so “jeopardizes” their health. Athletes will be screened before games and practices and if anyone shows symptoms, has a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, or is sick, he or she must be sent home.
Players and coaches will also have to develop new habits, as things like hand shakes, fist bumps or high-fives are prohibited before, during or after games and practices.
Activities that “increase the risk of exposure to saliva” must not be allowed included chewing gum, spitting, licking fingers and eating sunflower seeds.
“We know the virus is an evolving thing and there are new reports out all of the time,” Mertz said. “We will modify things as we go. If that means a condensed season or other changes we will adjust to make sure everyone is safe.”
All of the guidelines and rules can be viewed in their entirety at governor.pa.gov/covid-19/sports-guidance
This story will be updated.
