PlayAction Sports

PlayAction Sports New Fall Sports Season, But Far From Normal

by Tim Lambert

Tune in for the PlayAction Sports Update, three times each weekday on 1080 AM WKAC. Visit us online at www.pasnetwork.net! email: playactionsports@hotmail.com

“New normal,” “social distancing,” “we’re all in this together,” “con tact tracing” -- we’re all sick of the new buzz words. Some schools have had to delay or make adjustments to their fall seasons be cause of virus concerns; but at least sports is get ting the chance to start, and I suppose that’s a win in itself. The Alabama High School Athletic Associa tion released their plan providing guidelines for all fall sports. Football teams could officially begin fall practice on July 27, using the first week for acclimation and tryouts. With plans to begin fall sports on time, the AHSAA's Re turn to Play "Best Practices" was approved by the Central Board. Exec utive director Steve Savarese says the purpose of the document is to of fer member schools the best practices in order to start the fall seasons as scheduled and as safely as possible. According to the document, “Play ers, coaches, officials, and spectators may not congregate within 6 feet of a person from another household except to the extent necessary, and only to the extent neces sary for players, coaches, and officials to directly participate in the athletic activity.” Spec tators must wear a mask or other facial covering that covers the nostrils and mouth at all times while within six feet of persons from another household. Limited ex ceptions are allowed, such as for children who have not yet entered sec ond grade and for people with medical conditions that prevent them from wearing a facial cover ing. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris noted that the AHSAA said that Best Practices guid ance “was created to mitigate--not eliminate- -the risk of COVID-19.” The memo says schools are “strongly encour aged to establish and follow policies for lim iting event attendance in order to comply” with the current public health order, and to re quire fans to wear facial coverings while entering and exiting the gates, while in the stands, and elsewhere. Dr. Harris stressed that the cur rent public health order applies to schools and school-related events. In addition, all persons with symptoms and/or with known exposure to a COVID-19 positive case must quarantine for at least 14 days. Those who are await ing test results should also remain at home until they receive re sults and guidance from their physician, healthcare provider, or the health department. Having a negative test does not eliminate the requirement for home quarantine when in close contact to a positive case or remaining symptom atic without another diagnosis. The Back-toSchool Toolkit provides additional information and is available with other school resources at www.alabamapub lichealth.gov/covid19/ schools.html. Athens High School de layed the start of their football season after two players tested posi tive for COVID-19. The Golden Eagles also sus pended their practices until August 20. Their opening game scheduled for August 21 at Fort Payne has been can celled and their game with James Clemens has moved to August 29. East Limestone’s sea son-opener against Guntersville was also cancelled. Preseason football rank ings were released; James Clemens was at the seventh spot in Class 7A. Preseason volley ball polls have Athens High at number ten in Class 6A, Lauderdale

County was ninth in 3A, ABS was at the eighth position in their new 2A classification, and Lindsay Lane was ranked second in 1A. Listen for Limestone County area football again this season live online at www.pasnetwork. net and replayed Sunday afternoons at 12:15 on WKAC.