Pennsylvania releases guidelines for all sports, including PIAA, NCAA, to resume play
Sports, including at the high school and college levels, are one step closer to returning in Pennsylvania.
Gov. Tom Wolf’s office released guidance on the next steps for PIAA, NCAA, professional and amateur and recreational athletics Wednesday afternoon, and it includes a return to summer practice.
“This is another step toward reopening our state and getting things back on track,” Gov. Wolf said in a press release. “As students and teammates get ready to train and compete, it’s important that they follow precautions to protect each other and their community from the risk of COVID-19.”
NCAA schools, including Penn State, “can resume in-person activity after developing an athletic health and safety plan in alignment with (the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s) Postsecondary Education Institutions and Adult Education Programs guidance.”
The university last week released a plan for a phased return of football in line with safety protocols laid out by the NCAA, which includes 75 players who returned Monday.
PIAA member schools, of which there are six in the county, may resume voluntary sports-related workouts if their county is in the yellow or green phase and if the school has developed an athletic health and safety plan in alignment with the Department of Education’s Preliminary Guidance for Phased Reopening of Schools guidance. The plan must be approved by the local board of directors and posted on the school’s website.
The PIAA later released a statement confirming it would be following these new guidelines and use them to replace the governing body’s original plan to ban workouts until July 1.
“We are very appreciative and supportive of the governor’s staff and (the department of education) for allowing our input and having discussion of opening schools for voluntary workouts and activities,” PIAA Executive Director Robert Lombardi said in a press release.
With Centre County in the green phase, this means all six county schools, Bald Eagle Area, Bellefonte, Penns Valley, Philipsburg-Osceola, St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy and State College, can begin workouts once those plans are approved and posted.
Gatherings, including practices, must be limited to 250 people or fewer, or meet the 50% capacity or lower threshold of a venue.
The release recommended coaches and other adult personnel wear face coverings and screen athletes for symptoms before participation in practices or games. Teams must still follow safe hygiene and social distancing practices, avoid unnecessary physical contact, and clean and disinfect equipment and facilities in order to resume play.
Programs are encouraged to stagger drop-off and pick-up times at outdoor locations and designate entrances and exits to facilities, according to the release.
The governor’s office also recommended parents and other spectators wear face coverings and practice social distancing while in attendance, and to not enter field or bench area. Parents should monitor children for COVID-19 symptoms and evaluate children at higher risk for severe illnesses.
“Pennsylvania has some of the best athletes and teams in the country and they can now begin to safely return to organized sports,” Wolf said in the release. “This guidance balances keeping student athletes safe from COVID-19 while allowing them to participate in an important part of their lives.”
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 1:50 PM.
