With High School Sports getting the green light to practice and play in the fall amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, there is great enthusiasm to begin athletics in 2020. However, accompanied with this enthusiasm is legitimate skepticism surrounding player’s health and safety on the fields and courts of some sports. Sports like cross country, golf, and tennis are considered low risk due to less participants and lack of physical contact with others in the sport. Yet, volleyball and football are examples of sports with physical contact during multiple instances in games. Football, even the more as tackling and blocking are regular parts of the game. With these questions surrounding fall sports, and football specifically, its important to know what measures parents can take to increase protection for student athletes during the pandemic. The answer may lie in the example the NBA has provided for its players in the NBA bubble.
The NBA approved the plan to resume the season at the Disney Wide World of Sports on June 4, and games there began on July 30. The bubble institutes different measures to restrict access to players and players access to potential exposures. Recently, the NBA announced zero positive Covid-19 tests in five consecutive weeks. The effectiveness of preventive measures has allowed the season to proceed unimpeded into the playoffs. Lot’s of money and research has been put into this venture to ensure these outcomes. High Schools don’t posses this type of money or resources to pull this off alone, yet there may be some things parents can do to help. Below we highlight some of those measures and how parents can institute their own bubbles around their student athletes for the upcoming season.
Sanitation
Many schools are taking precautions by enhancing cleaning measures. Parents can also take those same measures by making student athletes wash hands frequently. Providing them with small hand sanitizers to carry in gym bags and book bags to use before and after practice in locker rooms. Parents can also provide several different pairs of practice clothes a week, washing practice attire 2-3 times a week. and encourage player not to wear the same pair consecutively.
Social Distancing
Parents should reinforce social distancing to student athletes. Try to remain at least 6-feet from persons other than immediate household family members at all times. This includes post game talks with other parents, media, and school administrators. The NBA requires social distancing from players. Inside the NBA’s bubble, SafeZone tags are used by the NBA and NFL to monitor social distancing. The sound of beeping indicating social distancing has been compromised, becoming apart of their new normal. It should become the new normal for the next four months for high school athletes as well. Minus the beeping of course.
Masks
Parents should reinforce children to wear masks in public places and areas. Parents should also be proactive in asking others to wear masks around their student athletes. This includes before and after games. The CDC cites several studies showing that wearing a mask prevented the spread of infection to others. The NBA requires players to wear masks at all times outside of living quarters, games and practices.
CDC calls on Americans to wear masks
Isolation
Parents should consider stringent isolation of players during the fall season to include; No sleep-overs with friends or fellow players. No vacations during the season. No eating out inside public restaurants. The NBA has a strict policy on access to players including no food delivery, no guests inside the bubble and no leaving the bubble.
Isolation periods also occur when a player either tests positive for Covid-19 or has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. Any NBA players subject to isolation periods when a game is scheduled must forego participating in the game to complete their isolation. Parents should take an active role in monitoring their student athletes the same. If potentially exposed to someone who has Covid-19, a tests should be administered as soon as possible. That athlete should remain isolated at home until results return even if there’s a potential of missing practice or a game. Sure, this might be tough as all parents want their children to play in the games. Yet is playing in one game worth the possibility of infecting his or her entire team or potentially exposing players from opposing teams?
Testing
Weekly testing should be encouraged by parents whether the athlete shows symptoms or not. Rapid tests are available yet expensive in many cases. Ideally, parents would take their student athlete to a free testing site and receive results in 3-5 business days. The NBA conducts several tests a week which has allowed them to contact trace if needed and prevent the spread to other athletes.
Ensuring a season without stoppages or outbreaks is the ultimate goal for everyone. It’s going to take a team effort for this to happen, and parents are going to have to lead the way in order for the athletes to play.
