NSAA, PCS release guidelines for winter sports and activities
The Nebraska School Activities Association and Perkins County schools have released guidelines for how winter sports and activities should be handled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each school is free to include their own additional protocols, such as further limiting how many people can attend a sports game. Perkins County’s specific guidelines for each activity are listed in this article.
In order to participate in the 2020-2021 winter activities season, schools must at minimum follow the guidelines the NSAA has laid out.
The following are a set of general requirements schools, officials and spectators must follow for all winter season contests:
• Active participants are permitted, but not required, to wear face coverings during the competition or performance.
• Coaches and non-active participants (those not currently on the court, mat or stage) are required to wear face coverings at all times. Cheer and dance are considered non-active participants.
• Spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times while attending indoor events.
• Face coverings must cover the nose and mouth.
• The host school may establish additional requirements in consultation with local health departments. Additional requirements implemented by the host school must be the same for all schools, officials, judges and spectators.
Additional recommended protocols based on current directed health measures (DHM) include the following:
• Restricted attendance/seating areas based on current DHM
•Require six feet of physical distance between household groups in stands and spectator areas.
• Create separate points of entry and seating for home and visitor teams/spectators.
• Provide no concession stands or separate/multiple concession stands for home and visitor spectators.
• Provide separate/multiple restrooms for home and visitor spectators.
• Use signage, stanchions or floor markings to ensure physical distancing of six feet at concession stands and restrooms.
• Communicate availability of locker room space for the opposing team and officials to maintain six feet of physical distance.
• Implement diligent and effective cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched objects and surfaces.
Other general guidelines the NSAA asks schools to follow include temperature and symptom checks before attending activities, utilizing smaller training groups to students social distance, and distancing of at least six feet between spectators from different households.
Basketball
The guidelines for attending games at Perkins County Schools are as follows:
• Each student athlete is allowed two immediate family members per household for entry to the game. Please provide Perkins County a list of your student athletes and two immediate household family members.
• If you are not on the pass list, you will not be admitted into the games. This includes students.
• Children five and under will not count toward the two member family limit for entry.
• All children are to stay with their parents/guardians during the duration of games.
• Masks are required by everyone when inside the building and gyms. Active participants, coaches and referees are exempt from wearing a mask while on the court.
• Gym capacity will be 25%. Athletic Director Jeremy Struckman says this means 240 attendees are allowed in the new gym and 260 in Pritchett gym.
• Opposing fans will sit on the north side of the new gym and on the north side of the Pritchett gym.
• Cheerleaders are allowed to cheer.
Concessions will be offered, and those serving at concession stands will be required to wear a mask.
Struckman said per the NSAA’s requirements, if attendees choose to not wear a mask or remove their mask once entering the building, they will be asked to put their mask back on. If the warning is refused, the attendee in question will be asked to leave the premises.
The NSAA also requires that attendees are limited to the referee and head coach from each team with social distancing during pregame, meaning no spectators should enter the gym during pregame.
They ask that handshakes and fist bumps are eliminated prior to and following the pregame conference.
They also ask that social distancing of six feet be maintained whenever possible, even if that means limiting the number of bench personnel and providing additional seating for players on the bench.
After the game, spectators should exit the competition area, rather than staying to talk others in attendance or wait for athletes.
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