INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana High School Athletic Association is giving guidance to schools holding fall sports and it includes fans in the stands.
IHSAA said it believes it is essential to the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes to return to organized physical activity. It also gives those athletes a chance to build team relationships with their peers and coaches.
IHSAA pointed to a study conducted by UW Health & the University of Wisconsin that found more than two-thirds of high school athletes reported anxiety and depression since the onset of the pandemic.
For workouts, practices and competitions to continue, IHSAA said schools must take measures including: social distancing, face covering/masking, frequent sanitizing of hands, implements, and equipment.
Additional guidance:
- Contests canceled due to COVID-19 will not be required to pay a cancellation fee.
- If a contest is canceled due to COVID-19, it should be recorded as “No Contest”.
- Anyone who is not engaged in strenuous physical activity should be wearing a mask.
- Athletes can wear neck gaiters and should slip them up over their nose when they are not participating in the contest.
- If a school decides to sell concessions, it is recommended that all items sold in the concession stand be pre-packaged prior to sale.
- Spectators will be allowed at the discretion of the host school with guidance from local health officials and in accordance with the governor’s stage 4.5.
- IHSAA by-laws 9-14 (Practice Attendance Required to Participate in a Contest) and 50-1/101-1 (Pre-Participation Practice) will remain in effect.
