Oxford Hills Athletics High School

Middle School “Recommendations for Return to Play”

MPA Guidance and Expectations

Athletics provides opportunities for our student athletes to:

Develop physically, emotionally, mentally and socially.

Be a part of a “family” - team family, school family, community

Athletic opportunities help our students stay focused. There is less idle time, less disciplinary issues, better overall grades and attendance at school.

Our student athletes depend on the positive relationships they have with their coaches, assistant coaches, volunteer coaches, and teammates.

Additional learning environment - an education based athletic program. Our programs are an extension of the classroom.

Fall Athletic TeamsHigh School Middle School

● Cheer

● Cross Country

● Field Hockey

● Football

● Golf

● Boys/Girls Soccer

● Cross Country

● Field Hockey

● Football

● Golf

● Boys/Girls Soccer

Student athletes on each team:

High School Team Participants Level of Play allowed:Cross Country (32) Level 1- 5 Fall Cheer (22) Level 1- 4Field Hockey (59) Level 1- 4Football - 7v7 (60) Level 1- 4Golf (12) Level 1- 5Boys Soccer (40) Level 1- 4Girls Soccer (35) Level 1- 4

Levels of Play allowed:The following types of play are defined by level from least to greatest risk. Across all types of play, keep players together in small, stable groups (i.e. cohorts) with dedicated coaches or staff. Ideally, these cohorts should include fewer than 30 individuals.

Level 1: Performing skill-building drills or conditioning at home, alone or with household members

Level 2: Team-based practice with physically distanced group activities

Level 3: Within-team competition (e.g. intra-squad scrimmages). This level of play involves one cohort of participants.

Level 4: Competition between teams from the same geographic area (e.g. the same county and in some cases adjacent counties). This level of play involves two cohorts of participants. Field Hockey, 7V7 Football, Soccer, Sideline Cheer

Level 5: Competition between teams from different geographic areas within Maine. Golf and XC

Level 6: Competition between teams from different states

MPA Recommendations for Return to ParticipationEach athletic event has guidelines and orders that need to be followed.

These guidelines came from the following resources:

● National Federation of State High School Associations

● Governor’s Office - State of Maine

● Maine Department of Education

● Maine Department of Economic & Community Development

● Maine Department of Health and Human Services

● Maine Principals’ Association Sports Medicine Committee

Summer athletic programsWe have advanced through four phases for MPA guidance, rules, expectations.

The athletic department has developed an online daily attendance for each program. Groups were divided into pods of 10 or cohorts of 30 as required.

Developed a digital COVID-19 pre-screening form. Students and coaches received a immediate response in order to attend practice. All responses were recorded online as a backup system for attendance and contact tracing.

Masks worn when not involved in strenuous activity.

Social distancing practiced.

Summer athletic programs - continued

● “Go Kits” developed and distributed to each team. Sanitizers, wipes, masks, gloves and materials to clean, disinfect and sanitize for individuals and equipment.

● E.A.P. developed for a possible COVID-19 Infection during practice or an event.

● Phases allowed for an increase in athletic exercise/conditioning and individual skill work as the athletes progressed through the phases.

● Guidance included limited practice time, arriving dressed for practice, individual water bottles (no sharing), no sharing of equipment, equipment sanitized during use on a regular basis, social distancing.

Fall Athletics2020

Moving Forward

Return to Competition - General Considerations(APPLY TO ALL SPORTS):

● Individuals (student-athletes, coaches, officials, and other athletic personnel) will complete a COVID-19 pre-screening daily.

● Adhere to school/organization adopted plans if you begin to show symptoms.● Ensure that facilities have been properly sanitized and have hand sanitizer and disposable masks

readily available for practices and contests. ● Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and equipment including balls. ● Social distancing will be maintained, where feasible. No hugging, high fives, shaking hands, or fist

bumps. ● Social distancing will be maintained on all sidelines. No team benches● Outdoor sports may need to extend team sideline areas to permit social distancing. ● Athletes are not required to wear face coverings while actively engaged in workouts and

competition that prevent the wearing of face coverings, but must wear face coverings when on the sidelines,anytime 3-6 feet of social distancing is not possible.

Return to Competition - General Considerations

● Coaches, staff, and spectators (if permitted) must wear face coverings, unless they meet the face mask exemption rule adopted by the State of Maine.

● Athletes and coaches should bring and use their own water bottle. ● If a positive COVID-19 case is determined, we will follow our COVID -19 E.A.P. school

safety plans, in coordination with the Department of Health, CDC, and district plans.

Return to Competition - General Considerations CONSIDERATIONS FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES/COACHES/HOST ADMINISTRATORS:

● Teams will make each student responsible for their own supplies. Students will wear their own appropriate workout clothing and not share clothing. Individual clothing/towels should be washed and cleaned after every workout.

● Hand sanitizer will be plentiful at all contests and practices. ● Athletes will tell coaches immediately when they are not feeling well. ● Student-athletes should keep their mouth guards in their mouth throughout the competition.

If the mouth guard is taken out, proper disinfection of the mouth guard will be done. ● All participants will bring and use their own water bottle. ● Coaches will communicate all guidelines in a clear manner to students. ● Coaches will conducting workouts in “pods” or “cohorts” of the same students, always

training and rotating together in practice to ensure less exposure if someone develops an infection.

● Coaches must keep accurate records of those athletes and staff who attend each practice in case contact tracing is needed.

● Coaches will limit game day squad sizes for social distancing purposes. ● Coaches should make sure the team brings their own medical supplies.

Return to Competition - Parent Responsibilities

● Parents/Guardians should monitor their children of any symptoms prior to any sporting activities. Children who are sick or showing symptoms must stay home. (If there is doubt stay home).

● Parents/Guardians, along with the coaches, should assess levels of risk of individual athletes who may be at a higher risk for severe illness.

● Parents/Guardians should assist their child in disinfecting their clothing and equipment after each game or practice.

● Parents/Guardians should inform coaches if the student-athlete has been exposed to someone who is known to have COVID-19.

High School Cross Country

Fall Sport Specific guidelines - Cross Country - Level 5

❖ Pre Race- Visiting teams and officials pre-screen prior to arrival❖ Team areas separate at meet areas ❖ Course is 6 ft. wide - Home Course is Robert’s Farm Preserve trails❖ Runners wear masks till start of race and socially distant at starting line❖ Staggered starts, groupings of 6 -10.❖ Runners do not stop at the finish area, return to their tent/team areas❖ No handshakes, high fives, hugs, etc. ❖ Face coverings are not currently recommended for athletes during high

intensity practice or competition.❖ Athletes must wear face coverings when not engaged in the race.❖ Face coverings must be worn by coaches, staff, officials, and

spectators.

Fall Sport Specific guidelines - Field Hockey Level 4

➔ DISTANCING - ◆ maintain physical distancing among players, coaches, umpires/referees, and spectators.

Maintain 6 feet of physical distance from individuals who are not part of their household group whenever possible

➔ SPECTATORS/CAPACITY - ◆ The approval of spectators must follow the guidelines. Sports activities are responsible for

limiting the number of individuals that can gather in a shared space, in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order on gathering size limits, currently 100 people outdoors, or fewer if distancing rules cannot be accommodated. Players, coaches, cheerleaders, officials, volunteers, and spectators count toward the gathering limit.

◆ Face coverings must always be worn by coaches, staff, officials, and spectators◆ Spectators, if allowed, must maintain 6 feet of physical distance between themselves and

others.

Fall Sports Specific Guidelines - Field Hockey➔ FACE COVERINGS

◆ Face coverings are permitted by any athlete choosing to wear one during activity. ◆ Face coverings are not currently recommended for players during high intensity play.◆ Players must wear face coverings when not engaged in active play (e.g. during coaching

strategy sessions or in bench area. ◆ Face coverings must always be worn by coaches, staff, officials, and spectators.

➔ SCHEDULING◆ Level 4: Competition between teams from the same geographic area (e.g. the same county

and in some cases adjacent counties).

➔ FACILITY & PLAYING AREA◆ Provide separate entrance and exit for teams.◆ Home team medical staff must brief visiting coaches of protocols and isolation space for if an

athlete becomes sick during play.◆ Home teams shall provide hand sanitizer/sanitizing stations at the scorer’s table and each

team bench.

Fall Sports Specific Guidelines - Field Hockey➔ VISITING TEAM

◆ Provide their own balls for warm ups.◆ Come ready to play the contest dressed in uniform.◆ Medical kit with necessary athletic training supplies.◆ All students-athletes must bring their own water vessel clearly labeled with their name. ◆ Visiting teams will be briefed by the home team medical staff on protocols and isolation space if

an athlete becomes sick during play.

➔ SCREENING◆ Home, visiting teams, staff and officials pre-screen prior to arrival

➔ TEAM BENCHES◆ Team areas may be expanded for players only toward the end line to promote social distancing.

Limit bench personnel to observe social distancing of 6 feet. All participants and coaches must wear a face covering in the bench area.

◆ Mask may be removed while hydrating so long as the person hydrating is 6 feet from anyone else in/on the bench area

Fall Sports Specific Guidelines - Field Hockey➔ PRE-GAME CONFERENCE

◆ Pre game conference - one official, coach, capt., at midfield. No handshakes, socially distance practice, no pregame announcements, start game immediately.

➔ BALL◆ The balls should be cleaned and sanitized throughout the contest. 3 to 4 balls should be

available for rotation into the game on each sideline.

➔ TOOTH AND MOUTH PROTECTORS ◆ Student-athletes should keep their mouth guards in their mouth throughout the competition. If

the mouth guard is taken out a player’s hands should also be washed or disinfected before continuing to play.

➔ SUBSTITUTIONS◆ The number of substitutes in the substitution area is limited to one athlete per team.

Fall Sports Specific Guidelines - ➔ OFFICIALS’ TABLE

◆ Limit to essential personnel. All scorers table personnel must wear masks. ◆ If a member of either team is carded, the use of chairs is discouraged. The player should take

a knee and remain socially distant from the substitution area as well as the head table.

➔ IN-GAME MODIFICATIONS◆ Coaches are encouraged to hold pre-game, quarter, half-time and post-game meetings

socially distant. Masks are required for these meetings. ◆ Avoid touching the ball with your hands whenever possible. The use of the stick or the feet

should be used to move the ball during the stoppage of play and on the sidelines.

➔ EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES ◆ Cloth face coverings are permitted. Gloves are permitted. Participants may not share any

personal belongings.

➔ POST GAME ◆ No post-game shaking of hands. Teams should conduct a good sportsmanship wave to

opponents at the conclusion of the game.

Sports Specific Rule ModificationsSoccer -

● Level 4 of play● Slide tackling● Throw-ins and corner kicks● Drop-ball restart

Cheer

● Level 4 of play● No stunting or tumbling.● No giveaways (ex. T-shirts, prizes) to the crowd during the contest.● No signs or banners for the team to run through prior to the contest.● Halftime routines must maintain 6 feet of distancing, must have facemasks.

Sports Specific Rule Modifications7 V 7 Football Level 4 of play

● Each team can have no more than 7 players on the field at a time.● 15 - minute quarters (continuous running clock for each quarter)● Offensive plays must all be passes.● No blocking or tackling.● Recommended that teams use flag belts to eliminate forceful tagging. If flags are not available,

teams may adopt 1-hand touch● Responsibility to avoid contact is with the defense. ● No helmets or pads will be used● No huddles

Golf Level 5 of play

● Players should not touch nor remove the flagstick at any time.● Bunker rakes and ball washers should not be on the course.● Sanitized paper cards will be available but not exchanged. Electronic scoring is allowable.

OXFORD HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS● Middle School league (SMSMAC) - no Fall season competition because of the number of

teams unable to compete due to state restrictions. Some schools are located in counties that have a “yellow” designation.

● Majority of middle schools in our league that are allowed to compete are conducting “team” intramural programs that will compete within their own programs.

● Season will be limited to a 4-5 week season● Limited equipment to be used. All will be sanitized frequently and at the completion of practice

or games. No helmets or pads will be used for football. Similar 7 V 7 rules as high school.● All guidelines and expectations in place for the high school programs for practices will be

followed when appropriate● Athletics and participation in these teams are just as important at the middle school level.● All practices and intramural contest will be at the middle school facilities.● Requirements of up to date physicals, IHQ and Assumption of Risk COVID-19 forms will be in

place.● No practices on Wednesday’s due to teacher/staff PD. Four days of practice or scrimmage

Transportation We plan on transporting up to 24 individuals per bus to away contest.

Follow District Bus guidelines - masks, seating areas, etc.

Several school districts are allowing parents the option to transport their son/daughter to an away contest. No student athlete is allowed to self transport.

Most contest of Soccer, Field Hockey, 7 V 7 Football, have sub-varsity teams.

Our present plan is for one bus to make multiple trips: drop off one team, go back and pick up the other team. Return first team when done and go back to pick up the second team.

We have a waiver ready. Would this something the Board would approve for parents to transport their own son/daughter. Similar to transporting them to school each day.

Spectators Governor’s crowd limit for outdoor events is limited to 100 individuals per event for outdoor events.

● Limiting the number of individuals that can gather in a shared space, in accordance with the Governor’s Executive Order on gathering size limits, currently set at 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors, or fewer if distancing rules cannot be accommodated.

Scheduling has been done to try to limit the game events at the athletic fields to one contest per time period.

No schools are allowing visiting spectators this fall season.

Many schools are not allowing any spectators - except for Senior Night (then only Sr. parents)

Senior Night is planned for the first home contest for each sport.

Home spectators would be approximately 30 or less, depending on teams size, coaches, staff, and other personnel to run the games (scorers, clock operator, chain gang, video, etc.).

OHCHS and OHMS Vikings