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McMullen County Athletics COVID-19 Protocol

MCMULLEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR HIGH BASKETBALL
HOME TEAM COVID PLAN


McMULLEN COUNTY ISD GYM COVID-19 PROTOCOL FOR BASKETBALL GAMES 2020:

All athletes, coaches, spectators and  employees from the home and visiting team will be expected to adhere to all policies set forth by MCISD.

Required Screening

Staff, Coaches, spectators, parents and players must self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before participating in instructional activities.  These screening protocols are found in the UIL COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines. 

(https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/covid-19/2020-2021-uil-covid-19-risk-mitigation-guidelines)

Executive Order GA-29

  1. Face coverings include non-medical grade disposable face masks, cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth), or full-face shields to protect eyes, nose, and mouth.  Face shields may be superior to cloth face coverings in many circumstances, given improved ability to see mouth movements and improved air circulation.

  2. All employees, parents, visitors and students must wear face coverings or face shields upon entry to an area where UIL activities are being conducted and when not actively practicing or playing in the contest.

Spectators, Audiences, Fans and Media

Schools may allow spectators to attend games, contests, or events within a maximum 50% capacity limitation, provided that appropriate spacing between spectators is maintained according to the protocol, and according to the following:

  1. Schools and/or host sites should post visible signs and/or messages stating any individuals who are confirmed to have, suspected of having, are experiencing symptoms of, or have been in close contact with an individual who has been confirmed to have COVID-19 should not enter the facility.

Close Contact Definition:

  • being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on); or

  • being within 6 feet for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes; however, additional factors like case/contact masking (i.e., both the infectious individual and the potential close contact have been consistently and properly masked), ventilation, presence of dividers, and case symptomology may affect this determination. 

Number of Spectators: (These numbers are subject to change at any time)

  • 40  Visitors

  • 120 Home

**Fans are expected to follow social distancing/face covering guidelines at all times.  Refusal to follow these guidelines will result in removal from the facilities.**  

Visiting teams:

  1. McMullen County ISD will allow 40 total visiting spectators. (Visiting team spectators are only allowed to sit in the visitor section). 

  2. McMullen County ISD will send protocol information and spectator form  to the school at least three to five days in advance.   It will be the responsibility of the visiting school to fill out a spectator form and return to McMullen County to use at the gate.

  3. Only fans on the spectator form will be allowed into the contest unless the total is under 40 allowed spectators.   

  4. McMullen County ISD also allows three Administrators from that school to come in addition to the 40 spots.

  5. Cheerleaders attending the game for performance purposes are required to be on the Visitor Spectator list and take up one  of the 40 spots allotted to the school. 

  6. Once you leave the gym, you forfeit your space in the gym and will not be allowed to re-enter.

  7. The players for the visiting teams when not participating will sit in a designated area which will be clearly marked. Participants should never sit in the bleachers with the visiting fans.

  8. No water will be provided for the visiting teams.  Visiting teams are responsible for bringing their own water for their teams.

  9. Visiting Teams are to bring their own balls for warm-up.  (Game Ball:  Spalding TF 1000 Legacy)

  10. It is recommended that Visiting Teams should disinfect their benches between games.

Home Team:

  1. McMullen County ISD will allow 120 total home spectators.  (Home team spectators are only allowed to sit in the home sections)  

  2. McMullen County ISD will allow  two spectators per player for that student-athlete.  

  3. The remaining at-large occupancy for the home team will only be sold at the game.  Once the 120 spots are sold out no more home spectators will be allowed in the gym. 

  4. The remaining home team spots will only be sold to individuals at the gate. 

  5. Once you leave the gym, you forfeit your space in the gym and will not be allowed to re-enter.

  6. The players for the home teams when not participating will sit in a designated area near the home bench. Players will not be allowed  in the home  bleachers or to go to the home side.  Participants should never sit in the bleachers with the visiting fans.

Person’s Not Included in the 120 Home Tickets:

  • Gatekeeper(s)

  • Table Workers (s)

  • Concession Stand Workers

  • Administration, Coaches

**Parents and fans will not be allowed on the court before, during, or after the game.**

**Once the gym floor is cleared of players and officials fans will need to exit the gym.**

Teams Entering Gym:

  • Home Team:  Enters gym through Back Hallway Entrance.

  • Visiting Team:  Enters gym using door by visitors bench on South Side.  

  • All Fans:  Enter the gym through the main entrance.  Fans are expected to maintain social distancing and to be wearing masks.  

  • When entering the gym each individual fan will be required to fill out and sign a McMullen County Wellness Survey.  

Exiting the Gym:

  • Home Team Fans:  Will exit gym through the main entrance by the concession stand.

  • Home Team Players:  Will exit gym through back hall exit.

  • Visiting Team Fans:  Will exit the gym through the North Gym Parking Lot exit by visitor bleachers.

  • Visiting Team Players:  Will exit gym using the same door they entered, South Gym Exit.

Fans should allow players, coaches and officials to clear the floor before attempting to exit at the end of a half and at the end of the game.

**WE WILL HONOR THSCA, TABC, OR TGCA PASS FOR ONE PERSON, BUT MUST HAVE THE DESIGNATED VISITOR OR HOME TICKET**

The following protocol is subject to change at the discretion of the  McMullen County ISD Administration.


McMULLEN COUNTY ATHLETICS COVID-19 PROTOCOL

It is our goal at McMullen County to provide our athletes with a safe and healthy environment as we take on the current pandemic caused by COVID-19.  The following guidelines come from recommendations by the State, TEA and UIL.  As these entities  change their guidelines and recommendations, McMullen County will be doing the same to continue to provide better guidance on keeping our athletes safe.

McMullen County Athletics Guidelines

McMullen County will make hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, soap and water, or similar disinfectant readily available in all areas used by our athletes and coaches.  We will also regularly clean and disinfect all high traffic areas, locker rooms, and all frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, tables, chairs, lockers and restrooms.

Any equipment that is used will also be regularly and frequently cleaned and disinfected.

Required Screening

Staff, Coaches and players must self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms before participating in instructional activities.  These screening protocols are found in the UIL COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines. (https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/covid-19/2020-2021-uil-covid-19-risk-mitigation-guidelines)

Parents must also ensure they do not send a student to participate in UIL activities if the student has COVID-19 symptoms or is lab-confirmed with COVID-19 until the conditions listed in the UIL COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines for re-entry are met. (https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/covid-19/2020-2021-uil-covid-19-risk-mitigation-guidelines)

Close Contact

Coaches and athletes that have been in close contact with an individual who has been confirmed to have COVID-19 should not enter the facility.

Close Contact Definition:

  • being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on); or

  • being within 6 feet for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes; however, additional factors like case/contact masking (i.e., both the infectious individual and the potential close contact have been consistently and properly masked), ventilation, presence of dividers, and case symptomology may affect this determination

Athletic Period/Practice:

Staff, Coaches and players are required to follow protocols set for the athletic period.  Protocols could change depending on the status of COVID-19 cases and regulations set by the State, TEA and UIL.

  • Staff, Coaches and players are required to wear a mask entering and exiting the gym.

  • Athletes are required to wear a mask when they are not actively participating in a drill.  

  • Girls will enter the gym through the main gym entrance.  Boys will enter the gym through the entrance closest to their locker room.

  • Athletes are required to wear a mask while in the locker room.  Athletes should use the locker room to dress, not socialize.  

  • Athletes are required to bring their own, labeled water bottle, and towel.  Athletes should not share their water bottle or towel with other participants.  

  • Athletes are required to take their clothes home everyday to be washed.  Students are expected to not forget their clothes and have them at every workout.  

  • Athletes must practice safe social distancing (6 foot rule) when not participating actively in a drill.  Coaches will need to monitor.  

Weight Room:

  • Coaches will need to set up workouts for safe social distancing when in the weight room.

  • There can be no more than 12 athletes in the weight room (3 Stations) and 8 in the conditioning room (2 Stations).  (20 athletes total)

  • Athletes will need to wipe down the equipment they used before moving to their next station.

  • All equipment used will need to be wiped down and put up at the end of the workout.  

  • Athletes will need to wear a mask during the wipe down process.  

  • Coaches will need to set off a disinfecting bomb in the weight room/conditioning room after use.

After Practice/Workouts:

Coaches are responsible for making sure locker rooms are cleaned/wiped down and disinfected at the end of each day the locker rooms are used.  Coaches will have access to disinfecting bombs that they can set off in the locker room. 

Home Games:

  • Teams/Players not participating in competition or warm-up, will be required to sit in a designated area.  Athletes are not to mingle with the crowd/fans and vice-versa.    The visiting team will also have a designated area for their athletes.  

  • Players not actively participating in the competition are required to wear a facemask while on the bench.  Players can take facemask off when entering the contest but must put facemask back on when they come out of the game.

  • Coaches should have a bench seating chart so that masks, water bottles and towels do not get mixed up.

  • Benches should be disinfected between different games.  

  • Players are required to bring their own, labeled water bottle to have on the bench.  Players should not share their water bottle with their teammates.

  • Players are to have their own towel.  Players should not share their towel with their teammates.    

  • Coaches and workers at the table are also required to wear facemask during games.  

  • All fans, home or visitors, will enter through the main entrance.  Fans are expected to wear masks and practice safe social distancing. 

Officials will enter the gym through the doors by the parking lot.  Officials will be stationed in the Boys Coaches Office Bathroom, not in the office.

Away Games:

Transportation:

  • When traveling to away games athletics will follow TEA Guidance related to such transportation. (https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/covid/SY-20-21-Public-Health-Guidance.pdf)

  • Athletes should use hand sanitizer when boarding the bus.  

  • Depending on the number of riders athletes should Social Distance the best that they can.  Coaches will need to monitor.

  • Coaches will make a seating chart for all bus rides.  Players are expected to sit in their assigned seats.

  • Face Masks are required when riding the bus.

  • Face Masks should be worn entering and exiting the bus.

  • Athletes will need to sit in an area designated by the home school practicing social distancing when their team is not playing.

  • Athletes are still required to wear their mask when using the visiting team’s locker room(s).

  • Coaches are responsible for disinfecting the bus when they return from out of town trips.

Protocols set by other schools can vary.   We will expect all staff, coaches, athletes, parents and fans to follow protocols set by each school we travel too.

At this time McMullen County will not have Cheerleaders for the 2020-2021 athletic seasons due to constraints on attendance at games.

Sources:

TEA - https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/covid/SY-20-21-Public-Health-Guidance.pdf

UIL - https://www.uiltexas.org/policy/covid-19/2020-2021-uil-covid-19-risk-mitigation-guidelines