Plans released to bring back SCISA athletics

THOMAS GRANT JR.
chroniclesports@yahoo.com
Posted 5/22/20

The S.C. Independent Schools Association has taken the 1st steps towards the return of its sports Friday. 

The league, whose members include Northside Christian and W.W. King Academy, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get 50% of all subscriptions for a limited time. Subscribe today.

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Plans released to bring back SCISA athletics

Posted

The S.C. Independent Schools Association has taken the 1st steps towards the return of its sports Friday. 

The league, whose members include Northside Christian and W.W. King Academy, released a 3-step “Preliminary Return to Activities” document with guidelines for their schools to follow. It’s a 3-phase “resocialization of student-athletes” with the goal of promoting a “progressive, phased-in process of activities” once it resumes its summer sports schedule June 1. 

It addresses the following areas:

1.  Informed Consent / Assumption of Risk.

2.  Daily Screening

3.  Personal Protective Equipment / Handwashing-Sanitation Stations

4.  Sanitation:  Equipment, Bathrooms, Facilities, Buses

5.  Hydration

6.  Limitations on Gatherings/Player Numbers

7.  Sport Specific Guidelines and Non-Contact Social Engagement

Phase 1 has numerous instructions for coaches to follow to remain in compliance such as 

     - The prohibition of handshakes, high-fives, team huddles and similar activities.

     - Student-athletes utilizing their own water bottles.

     - Following the current recommendations of group sizes as stipulated by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. For outdoor activities, groups/pods of 10 or less with 6 feet of social distancing. For indoor activities, 5 people per 1,000 feet and the recommendation of not using locker rooms. 

     - An athletic/coach medical screening questionnaire to use daily.

     - no balls or equipment usage the 1st 14 days

     - Coaches and staff wear mask or face coverings at all times. 

“SCISA acknowledges that different areas of South Carolina may move to resocialization at a different speed than other areas,” SCISA Athletics Director Mike Fanning said in an email. Each local school administration and board must decide “when” and “what” best fits their school’s extracurricular needs. This document in no way supersedes any mandates set forth by Gov. (Henry) McMaster or SCDHEC. It is intended to guide local school administrations toward thought-provoking discussions and in making decisions that best fit their local school community.”

The S.C. High School League is expected to release a 3-phase plan coordinated with AccelerateED South Carolina. It most likely will follow the suggestions made this week by the National Federation of High Schools advisory panel in a 16-page list of recommendations for the states to consider for playing high school sports this fall. 

The recommendations allow a regional approach for resocialization. It also suggest a “phased approach” towards holding sports based on higher risk (football, boys lacrosse, wrestling), moderate (basketball, soccer, field hockey) and lower risk (cross-country, sideline cheer, golf). 

SCISA athletics

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here