(Atlantic) Atlantic Athletic Director Andy Mitchell presented the Atlantic School Board with an update on Wednesday, in regards to the opening of the high school baseball and softball season. The first practice date is June 1, and the first game is June 15.
Mitchell says signs should be posted, indicating the rules for entering the stands. No one should attend or participate in games if they currently have symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the past 14 days. The use of dugouts permitted during games only, players should use their equipment and must bring their own water/beverage to consume during and after games: no shared drinking fountains, water stations, or coolers.
Additionally, Coaches must sanitize shared equipment before and after games, and players and coaches should check their temperatures before attending practices or games. Players with symptoms of illness are not allowed to play.
Mitchell says if an individual’s temperature is 100-degrees or higher, they have to go home for 72 hours. Anyone with symptoms has to stay away for 10-days from the onset of the symptoms.
Schools must limit the use of bleachers for fans. Spectators are encouraged to bring their chairs or stand. Fans are to practice social distancing between different household units and accept personal responsibility for public health guidelines. Schools should implement any other reasonable measures under each school’s circumstances to ensure the social distancing of staff and students. Community members should use increased hygiene practices and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the Iowa Department Public Health. Fans must not attend if they have symptoms of illness, and no there are no concession stands.
The in-person team organized activities for other sports remain suspended until July 1. For-profit businesses providing sports training and memberships are allowed to offer sports training as long as they follow the same guidelines. Most notably fitness centers/clubs, gymnasiums, health clubs, and health spas and can continue to operate for all sports.
