Our goals
● Maintain safe and healthy communities
● Align our processes with NFHS provided guidelines for opening up athletics and activities
● Provide oversight and training to all coaches regarding social distancing and NFHS Phase 1 standards
● Prioritize student and instructor care
● Communicate policies and standards to our communities
● Provide consistent symptom checks and recording keeping
● Ensure effective facility management/cleaning protocol
● Ensure safe equipment management/cleaning protocol
Points of Emphasis
● No athlete or instructor will be required to attend any workouts provided
● All workouts will be voluntary for both coaches and athletes
● No repercussions for not attending on site face to face workouts (for both athlete and coach)
● Coaches and or athletes who have underlying risk factors or those that may be immunocompromised may not participate in on
site face to face workouts
● All coaches and athletes will have daily onsite symptom evaluation and record keeping
Community Communication
● All families, coaches and athletes will be notified of the return to action policies and procedures
● Communication via phone call, text, social media sharing, school wide Alert Now calls
● Share info with local media
● Keep the plan available for all parents, community members and stakeholders to review
Symptom Checks
● In accordance with the NFHS provided Covid-19 Athlete/Coach monitoring form, coaches will monitor symptoms. Before
each workout the checklist involves:
○ Do you have a fever?
○ Do you have a cough?
○ Do you have a sore throat?
○ Are you experiencing shortness of breath?
○ Close contact or cared for someone with Covid-19?
○ Have you been out of the country in the past 14 days?
○ Temp higher than 100.0?
● If yes to any of the above, the coach or athlete WILL NOT be allowed to participate and must leave the area immediately
Who Can Participate/watch?
● Only school designated coaches and athletes will be participating
● No fans and or spectators whatsoever
● Teams/communities unable to meet these demands will cease participation processes as well as communicate with site
administrator
Covid-19 activity mitigation strategies
● In accordance with NFHS Phase 1, each group/activity will have no more than 10 participants coach included (9 athletes + 1
coach=10 participants)
● No physical contact of any nature
● Social distancing of a minimum of 10 feet at all times
● Members of the activity/group will remain the same each day to aid in contact tracing if needed
● Activity times will be staggered to meet mitigation strategies
● No locker rooms will be used. Coaches and athletes must arrive dressed and prepared for the workout. No practice jerseys or clothing of any time will be provided or shared.
Facility supervision and maintenance
● Only school personnel and athletes will participate
● No dressing/locker rooms will be used
● Mitigation strategies will also be practiced in on-site parking lot/area to ensure no gatherings and social distancing
● Restroom plan in place limiting the number of athletes in a restroom as one time
● All indoor facilities/equipment will be cleaned and sanitized after workouts or between group sessions
● Students will not share un-sanitized equipment
● Students will use only equipment that can be used without aid or spotter (refer NFHS Phase 1)
● Everyone brings their own water/hydration bottle and does not share
● Coach can provide a disposable water bottle if needed
WCPS Phase 1
Pre- workout Screening:
● All coaches and students should be screened for signs/symptoms of COVID-19 prior to a workout. Screening includes a
temperature check.
● Responses to screening questions for each person should be recorded and stored so that there is a record of everyone present in
case a student develops COVID-19 (see Appendix II for sample Monitoring Form).
● Any person with positive symptoms reported should not be allowed to take part in workouts and should contact his or her
primary care provider or other appropriate health-care professional.
● Vulnerable individuals should not oversee or participate in any workouts during Phase 1
Limitations on Gatherings:
● No gathering of more than 10 people at a time (inside or outside).
Locker rooms should not be utilized during Phase 1. Students should report to workouts in proper gear and immediately return
home to shower at the end of the workout.
● Workouts should be conducted in “pods” of students with the same 5-10 students always working out together. Smaller pods
can be utilized for weight training. This ensures more limited exposure if someone develops an infection.
● There must be a minimum distance of 10 feet between each individual at all times. If this is not possible indoors, then the
maximum number of individuals in the room must be decreased until proper social distancing can occur.
Facilities Cleaning:
● Adequate cleaning schedules should be created and implemented for all athletic facilities to mitigate any communicable
diseases.
● Prior to an individual or groups of individuals entering a facility, hard surfaces within that facility should be wiped down and
sanitized (chairs, furniture in meeting rooms, locker rooms, weight room equipment, bathrooms, athletic training room tables,
etc.).
● Individuals should wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds with warm water and soap before touching any surfaces or
participating in workouts.
● Hand sanitizer should be plentiful and available to individuals as they transfer from place to place.
● Weight equipment should be wiped down thoroughly before and after an individual’s use of equipment.
● Appropriate clothing/shoes should be worn at all times in the weight room to minimize sweat from transmitting onto
equipment/surfaces.
● Any equipment such as weight benches, athletic pads, etc. having holes with exposed foam should be covered.
● Students must be encouraged to shower and wash their workout clothing immediately upon returning to home.
Physical Activity and Athletic Equipment:
● There should be no shared athletic equipment (towels, clothing, shoes, or sports specific equipment) between students.
● Students should wear their own appropriate workout clothing (do not share clothing) individual clothing/towels should be washed and cleaned after every workout.
● All athletic equipment, including balls, should be cleaned after each use and prior to the next workout.
● Individual drills requiring the use of athletic equipment are permissible, but the equipment should be cleaned prior to use by
the next individual.
● Resistance training should be emphasized as body weight, sub-maximal lifts and use of resistance bands.
● Free weight exercises that require a spotter cannot be conducted while honoring social distancing norms. Safety measures in all
forms must be strictly enforced in the weight room.
Examples (including by limited to):
● A basketball player can shoot with a ball(s), but a team should not practice/pass a single ball among the team where multiple
players touch the same ball.
● A football player should not participate in team drills with a single ball that will be handed off or passed to other teammates.
Contact with other players is not allowed, and there should be no sharing of tackling dummies/donuts/sleds.
● A volleyball player should not use a single ball that others touch or hit in any manner.
● Softball and baseball players should not share gloves, bats, or throw a single ball that will be tossed among the team. A single
player may hit in cages, throw batting practice (with netting as backstop, no catcher). Prior to another athlete using the same
balls, they should be collected and cleaned individually.
● Wrestlers may skill and drill without touching a teammate.
● Cheerleaders may not practice/perform partner stunts or building. (Chants, jumps, dances without contact are permissible.)
● Tennis players may do individual drills, wall volleys and serves.
● Runners should maintain the recommended 10 feet of distancing between individuals
Hydration:
● All students shall bring their own water bottle. Water bottles must not be shared.
● Hydration stations (water cows, water trough, water fountains, etc.) should not be utilized.
WCPS Phase 2
Pre-Workout/Contest Screening
● All coaches and students should be screened for signs/symptoms of COVID-19 prior to a workout. Screening includes a
temperature check.
● Responses to screening questions for each person should be recorded and stored so that there is a record of everyone present in
case a student develops COVID-19.
● Any person with positive symptoms reported should not be allowed to take part in workouts and should contact his or her
primary care provider or other appropriate health-care professional.
● Vulnerable individuals should not oversee or participate in any workouts during
Limitations on Gatherings:
● No gathering of more than 10 people at a time inside. Up to 50 individuals may gather outdoors for workouts.
● If locker rooms or meeting rooms are used, there must be a minimum distance of 10 feet between each individual at all times.
● Workouts should be conducted in “pods” of students with the same 5-10 students always working out together. Smaller pods
can be utilized for weight training. This ensures more limited exposure if someone develops an infection.
● There must be a minimum distance of 10 feet between each individual at all times. If this is not possible indoors, then the
maximum number of individuals in the room must be decreased until proper social distancing can occur. Appropriate social
distancing will need to be maintained on sidelines and benches during practices. Consider using tape or paint as a guide for
students and coaches.
Facilities Cleaning:
● Adequate cleaning schedules should be created and implemented for all athletic facilities to mitigate any communicable
diseases.
● Prior to an individual or groups of individuals entering a facility, hard surfaces within that facility should be wiped down and
7
sanitized (chairs, furniture in meeting rooms, locker rooms, weight room equipment, bathrooms, athletic training room tables,
etc.).
● Individuals should wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds with warm water and soap before touching any surfaces or
participating in workouts.
● Hand sanitizer should be plentiful and available to individuals as they transfer from place to place.
● Weight equipment should be wiped down thoroughly before and after an individual’s use of equipment.
● Appropriate clothing/shoes should be worn at all times in the weight room to minimize sweat from transmitting onto
equipment/surfaces
● Any equipment such as weight benches, athletic pads, etc. having holes with exposed foam should be covered.
● Students must be encouraged to shower and wash their workout clothing immediately upon returning to home
Physical Activity and Athletic Equipment:
● Lower risk sports practices and competitions may resume (see Potential Infection Risk by Sport below).
● Modified practices may begin for Moderate risk sports.
● There should be no shared athletic towels, clothing or shoes between students.
● Students should wear their own appropriate workout clothing (do not share clothing), and individual clothing/towels should be
washed and cleaned after every workout.
● All athletic equipment, including balls, should be cleaned intermittently during practices and contests.
● Hand sanitizer should be plentiful at all contests and practices.
● Athletic equipment such as bats, batting helmets and catchers gear should be cleaned between each use.
● Maximum lifts should be limited and power cages should be used for squats and bench presses.
● Spotters should stand at each end of the bar.
Hydration:
● All students shall bring their own water bottle. Water bottles must not be shared.
● Hydration stations (water cows, water trough, water fountains, etc.) should not be utilized.
WCPS Phase 3
Phase 3
Pre- Workout/Contest Screening:
● Any person who has had a fever or cold symptoms in the previous 24 hours should not be allowed to take part in workouts and
should contact his or her primary care provider or other appropriate health care professional.
● A record should be kept of all individuals present.
● Vulnerable individuals can resume public interactions, but should practice physical distancing, minimizing exposure to social
settings where distancing may not be practical, unless precautionary measures are observed.
Limitations on Gatherings:
● Gathering sizes of up to 50 individuals, indoors or outdoors.
● When not directly participating in practices or contests, care should be taken to maintain a minimum distance of 10 feet
between each individual. Consider using tape or paint as a guide for students and coaches.
Facilities Cleaning:
● Adequate cleaning schedules should be created and implemented for all athletic facilities to mitigate any communicable
diseases.
● Prior to an individual or groups of individuals entering a facility, hard surfaces within that facility should be wiped down and
sanitized (chairs, furniture in meeting rooms, locker rooms, weight room equipment, bathrooms, athletic training room tables,
etc.).
● Individuals should wash their hands for a minimum of 20 seconds with warm water and soap before touching any surfaces or participating in workouts.
● Hand sanitizer should be plentiful and available to individuals as they transfer from place to place.
● Weight equipment should be wiped down thoroughly before and after an individual’s use of equipment.
● Appropriate clothing/shoes should be worn at all times in the weight room to minimize sweat from transmitting onto
equipment/surfaces.
● Any equipment such as weight benches, athletic pads, etc. having holes with exposed foam should be covered.
● Students must be encouraged to shower and wash their workout clothing immediately upon returning to home.
Physical Activity and Athletic Equipment:
● Moderate risk sports practices and competitions may begin.
● There should be no shared athletic towels, clothing or shoes between students.
● Students should wear their own appropriate workout clothing (do not share clothing), and individual clothing/towels should be
washed and cleaned after every workout.
● Hand sanitizer should be plentiful at all contests and practices.
● Athletic equipment such as bats, batting helmets and catchers gear should be cleaned between each use. Other equipment, such
as hockey helmets/pads, wrestling ear guards, football helmets/other pads, lacrosse helmets/pads/gloves/eyewear should be
worn by only one individual and not shared.
● Maximum lifts should be limited and power cages should be used for squats and bench presses. Spotters should stand at each
end of the bar.
● Modified* practices may begin for Higher risk sports:
○ *Continue pre-practice screening as in Phases 1 and 2. Shower immediately after practices/contests.
Hydration:
● All students shall bring their own water bottle. Water bottles must not be shared.
● Hydration stations (water cows, water trough, water fountains, etc.) may be utilized but must be cleaned after every
practice/contest.
Higher Risk: Sports that involve close, sustained contact between participants, lack of significant protective barriers, and high probability that respiratory particles will be transmitted between participants.
Examples: Wrestling, football, competitive cheer
Moderate Risk: Sports that involve close, sustained contact, but with protective equipment in place that may reduce the likelihood of
respiratory particle transmission between participants OR intermittent close contact OR group sports OR sports that use equipment
that can’t be cleaned between participants.
Examples: Basketball, volleyball*, baseball*, softball*, soccer,, tennis*, swimming relays, pole vault*, high jump*, long jump*, girls
lacrosse, 7 on 7 football
*Could potentially be considered “Lower Risk” with appropriate cleaning of equipment and use of masks by participants
Lower Risk: Sports that can be done with social distancing or individually with no sharing of equipment or the ability to clean the
equipment between use by competitors.
Examples: Individual running events, throwing events (javelin, shot put, discus), individual swimming, golf, weightlifting, sideline
cheer, cross country running (with staggered starts)
FLEXIBILITY
● Athletic directors, school personal, and health officials will continue to meet, plan, and discuss future changes to the current
plan as conditions dictate.
COVID-19 Athlete/Coach Monitoring Form
Circle Yes/No Below
Name Time Fever Cough
Sore Throat
Shortness of Breath
Close Contact, or
cared for someone with COVID-19
Temp (if higher than 100.3°F)
Wise County Public Schools
Wise County Public Schools
628 Lake Street NE
Wise, VA 24293
276.328.8017
Fax: 276.328.3350
Assumption of Risk, Waiver, Release & Hold Harmless
COVID-19 Athletics & Extracurricular Activities
Summer 2020
School Year 2021
I desire to participate or allow my child(ren) to participate in one or more voluntary extracurricular activities sponsored by Wise County
Public Schools and the Wise County School Board (Collectively “WCPS”) The novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 has been
declared as a worldwide pandemic and is believed to be contagious and spread by person-to-person contact. Federal, Commonwealth,
and local agencies recommend social distancing and other measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
WCPS will conduct certain extracurricular activities beginning in the Summer of 2020 and continue into the 2020-21 school year.
These activities, hereinafter known as “Activity,” will be conducted with safety protocols appropriate under the circumstances at the
time. For the safety of all people involved, participants in the Activity will be required to adhere to all safety protocols and are subject to immediate removal from the Activity if they do not comply. Extracurricular activities are a privilege, and not a right, of publicschool students.
In an effort to ensure the safety and wellness of our school community, I understand the importance of students being healthy and safe when they participate in the Activity. By signing below, I agree that I will:
● Perform daily temperature checks on my child(ren) to screen for fever before arrival for the Activity. Fever is defined as a temperature over 100.4 F or 38.0 C. If my child(ren) has a fever, I will not permit my child(ren) to participate in the Activity until he/she has been without a fever for at least 72 hours. I also agree that the District may screen my child(ren) for a fever prior to allowing participation in any extracurricular activities.
● Make a visual inspection of my child(ren) for signs of illness which could include: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness. If my child(ren) has exhibited any of these signs or symptoms, I will not permit my child(ren) to participate in the Activity until he/she has been without signs or symptoms for at least 72 hours.
● Confirm that my child(ren) has not been in contact with someone who has either tested positive for COVID-19 in the
past 14 days or is waiting for test results. If my child(ren) has been in contact with such a person, I will not permit my child(ren) to participate in the Activity until 14 days have elapsed since the time of contact.
● Promptly pick up my child(ren) or arrange for pickup if signs or symptoms of illness are present. I understand that children are to remain home until illness-free for at least 72 hours without the use of medicine.
By signing this document below, I acknowledge and affirm all of the statements above. I also voluntarily assume all risks that I and/or my child(ren) may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 as a result of participation in the Activity, and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, sickness, and/or death. I understand that the risk of exposure or infection may result from my own actions, and/or omission those of my children, WCPS staff, volunteers, or agents, other Activity participants, or others not listed. By signing this, I acknowledge and accept all such risks in connection with my child(ren’s) participation in the Activity. Finally, I acknowledge that the above guidelines may change at any time due to recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Department of Health, the School Board of wise, Virginia, or any other regulating entity.
In consideration of my child(ren) being able to participate in the Activity, I, on my own behalf and on behalf of my child(ren) or other family member assisting me in the participation in the Activity, hereby waive, release, and hold the School Board of Wise, Virginia, and its employees and agents harmless from any and all claims, causes of actions, fees, costs, and any expenses of any sort or kind from exposure to and/or infection from COVID-19, that I and/or my child(ren), or my or our representatives, sustain during or related to my child(ren)’s participation or involvement in the Activity.
_________________________ ________________________
Signature of Parent/Guardian Signature of Student
_________________________ ________________________
Print name of Parent/Guardian Print name of Student
________________________ _________________________
Date of signature Date of signature