STEVENS POINT (NBC 26) -- The WIAA has released guidance that allows sports to resume summertime activities.
The organization said in a 16-page report that "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."
However, the report outlined several significant changes and recommendations for when activity can resume on July 1.
The WIAA said, "For workouts, practices and competitions to continue, social distancing and other preventive measures such as face
covering/masking and frequent sanitizing of hands, implements, and equipment should be considered the 'new normal.'"
In its points of emphasis, coaches and officials are encouraged to wear face cloths at all times, and players are allowed to wear masks in competitions.
Another point of emphasis is a Heat Acclimatization program that each school should implement to slowly progress in the duration and intensity of activity.
Schools are being asked to work with local health officials to determine risk levels by community and individual sports. The WIAA acknowledges that different communities will progress faster than others in a return to activities.
The high risk level includes some significant changes to sports. All coaches and players should be screened for COVID-19 symptoms, including temperature checks. Also at high risk levels, no equipment should be shared among players or teams. That means basketball teams should not pass a single ball, quarterbacks should not take handoffs from centers, and there should be no contact in hockey or wrestling. Those restrictions gradually lessen as schools and sports progress to lower levels of risk.
These guidelines are for summer activities. The WIAA said it's ultimately up to each school to decide if athletics may resume.
