WIAA Releases COVID Safety Guidance for School Sports

WIAA Provides Guidance for Summer Activities

OnFocus – The The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) has announced guidance for school sports, effective July 1. Per the announcement, WIAA will continue to work in collaboration with the Governor’s office, the Department of Public Instruction, and the Department of Health Services to provide guidance for increasing summer activities.

“Prioritizing the health and safety of all students and staff must remain the focus of each WIAA member school,” they wrote. “The WIAA believes it is essential to the physical and mental well-being of student-athletes in grades 6-12 to return to organized physical activity and build team relationships with their peers and coaches.”

Per the document, each WIAA member school’s athletic department will operate with the approval of their school leadership in moving forward through any and all “Return to Play” guidance from the CDC, Wisconsin DHS, NFHS, and WIAA throughout the summer and fall.

It will be the decision of each local school district administrator to determine if they can safely conduct summer athletic contact days. If it is determined that a season can be safely conducted, it will be the responsibility of the member school to provide proper administrative supervision (not the coach) at contests to assure compliance with the guidelines.

WIAA’s goal for this summer coaching contact is to allow students to participate in scholastic athletics and activities in any and all situations where it can be done safely.

Guidelines will likely remain in place until a cure, vaccine or very effective treatment is readily available, or so-called “herd immunity” is confidently reached.

Summer participation (starting July 1, 2020) in workouts/training sessions is voluntary and may not be mandated or used toward team or program selection. All coaching contact rules must be followed.

Read the full PDF here.

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