With Some Restrictions, GHSA Greenlights Return of Athletics

Perhaps now there is some light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel in terms of high school athletics in Georgia.

Last week the Georgia High School Association officials approved a plan that would allow schools to begin summer conditioning June 8.

The move is a promising sign that fall sports will happen despite lingering concerns over COVID-19. However, several guidelines will be in place limiting what athletes are allowed to do and how long they will be allowed in the facilities at each time.

Competition between schools is still prohibited at this time. It is common for GHSA schools to take part in summer scrimmages in various sports.

Officials originally proposed a June 1 start date, but discussion led to the June 8 date in an effort to give schools more time to prepare for the restrictions that will be in place once activities resume.

“We thought June 1 from the get-go was the date we wanted,” said GHSA executive director Robin Hines. “We were going to look at Gov. Brian Kemp’s guidance, what the medical professionals were telling us and that’s what we did. If we want to go to June 8, then I will change the date to June 8 and put it out there. It’s been a lot of work, and we’ve been working on this for quite some time now.”

One key element of the June 8 return is no more than 20 people will be allowed to use a school’s facility at a time, including coaches, and will require each group of 20 to remain the same to limit exposure. There will also be a 15-minute window between sessions to clean and sanitize.

The GHSA mandated workouts are to be conditioning only and should not include any sport-specific equipment. Use of school locker rooms is prohibited, as athletes are required to dress and shower at home. Athletes are also required to use their own water bottle.

It was also stressed in the GHSA announcement that all summer workouts are voluntary. While not required, face masks are recommended for the weight room.

The GHSA suggests athletes and staff be screened for COVID-19 before each session, though the organization stopped short at requiring an “infectious disease prevention plan,” instead leaving that up to individual schools.

July 27 is the first official start date for fall sports activities for the 2020-21 school year. The GHSA suspended all activities in March in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Since that time, schools around the state have been in limbo about when activities could resume.

The announcement came just a day after the NCAA approved a plan that would allow collegiate student-athletes back on campus starting June 1.

Meanwhile the GISA, of which Piedmont Academy is a member, will also see schools working this summer while following Centers for Disease Control guidelines concerning COVID-19.

Piedmont Academy athletic director Mary Catherine Sikes said the GISA does not regulate activities from the end of a school year through August 1. During that time each school makes it own decision concerning summer activities.

Monticello-Jasper County High School competes in football, softball and cross country during the fall while Piedmont fields teams in football and softball.