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  2. Athletics COVID-19 Protocol

Athletics COVID-19 Protocol

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