WESTSIDE -- The announcement that athletes, coaches and fans have been waiting for from state officials was made public July 31 when Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson released high school sports to proceed with 2020-21 practices and the competition season.
After the governor made his announcement, the Arkansas Activities Association released the following statement: "We have been given the approval to proceed according to the 2020-2021 AAA calendar and handbook regarding practice and competition for all sports. We continue to expect compliance with all directives as issued by the governor and the Department of Health. More information related to the directives will be issued as soon as it is released" (AAA news release).
The AAA released a new set of general requirements that all schools must adhere to in all sports. The requirements include the following:
• Maintain minimum physical distancing of 6 feet between participants at all times, except when actively participating in the sports activity.
• Athletes, coaches and all staff members must be screened prior to any activity by asking the following questions and excluded if the answer is yes.
Have had a fever of 100.4°F or greater in the last 2 days;
-- Have a cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell;
-- Had contact with a person known to be infected with covid-19 within the previous 14 days.
• Coaches and all staff members must have temperature checked by digital thermometer prior to entry, and those whose temperature is greater than 100.4°F must be excluded.
• Face coverings that completely cover the nose and mouth are required for everyone 10 years of age or older for indoor sports. Face coverings are strongly encouraged for outdoor sports. For athletes, face coverings are strongly encouraged when not actively participating in an outdoor sports activity. Face coverings or masks must be worn during indoor sports where a face covering is not inhibitory. For coaches and staff, face coverings must be worn at all times for indoor sports and are strongly encouraged for outdoor sports.
• Social distancing of 6 feet must be maintained in the locker room.
• An alcohol-based hand sanitizer or adequate handwashing facilities must be provided for use by all attendees.
• Sports equipment, restrooms, lockers, water fountains and other high touch surfaces must be sanitized frequently during each event.
• Avoid non-sport-related personal contact at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, huddles, high-fives, handshaking, fist-bumping and chest-bumping.
• For training and conditioning held in an athletic facility, the facility must follow the current directives for gyms, fitness centers, athletic clubs and weight rooms.
Once the school year begins on Aug. 24, football teams will be able to compete, but the AAA will release its guidelines for spectators prior to the start of the schedules. All sports hinge on the direction the covid-19 pandemic goes in the coming months. Should the number of confirmed cases continue to rise, the governor, heath department and AAA may implement different protocols.
Any sports-related questions can be directed to the Gravette, Gentry and Decatur administration offices through the schools' websites.