BENNETT'S MINUTES: Prep sports to reopen on Monday

Thursday, July 2, 2020

Finally.

After a long shutdown that lasted a little less than four months, Indiana high schools have been given the go-ahead to reopen their sports programs starting Monday.

All four Putnam County schools have put together a plan on how to handle the many new restrictions and guidelines. Each school provided the Banner Graphic with a copy of its plan.

At the bottom of this page, an excerpt from each school (normally including a different method of operation than other schools is listed). In no way are these excerpts close to the full document or do they include all necessary information. (Greencastle’s, for example, is 27 pages long.)

The entire set of IHSAA guidelines was published in the Banner Graphic on June 9. That list took up almost an entire page, and is also not being repeated here. What follows are some general and common topics that each school will be following with some hints to parents on what to do:

1. If you have not been in contact yet with your school’s athletic director or administration, you need to do so ASAP. Your child will not be able to compete until after all required forms are signed and submitted.

2. The first two weeks of the reopening (from July 6-19) have a 15-hour limit per week for each student-athlete. Multi-sport athletes will need to be shared among teams who are beginning workouts or conditioning sessions.

3. The second stage is from July 20-Aug. 15 and stage three begins on Aug. 16. We’ll worry more about those then.

4. One particular date to note is that high school football scrimmages were originally scheduled for Friday, Aug. 14. Since that date falls under stage two, fans are not permitted to be in attendance. Some schools have moved their scrimmages to Aug. 15 to be able to have fans and collect admission fees.

South Putnam has moved its home scrimmage against Indianapolis Lutheran to the 15th at 5 p.m., and North Putnam will also host Cardinal Ritter of Indianapolis on Saturday.

The status of the Greencastle and Cloverdale scrimmages was unknown as of Thursday evening, but will be publicized when available.

5. Athletes who competed in the 2019-20 school year (even in middle school) do not need to get a new physical examination.

However, there is still a form to be filled out by everyone.

Prior to participation, all first-time student athletes are required to have an IHSAA pre-participation physical for the upcoming school year. Returning student-athletes are not required to obtain a new IHSAA pre-participation physical, but should provide a 2020-21 IHSAA Health History Update Questionnaire and Consent and Release Certificate prior to participation.

If there is a YES answer to any of the seven questions on the IHSAA questionnaire, a new IHSAA physical will be required.

These forms are likely available online at your school website, or were sent to you in a packet of information. If you do not yet have one, you should get one ASAP. Links are provided below when available and at www.bannergraphic.com.

6. Each athlete must bring his/her own water bottle.

7. Everyone needs to realize that these plans, as thorough and inclusive as possible, are all works in progress and are definitely written in pencil rather than etched in stone.

The severity level of the COVID-19 pandemic can and does change daily, and if the governor decides to restore previous restrictions then high school sports will be in jeopardy — similar to what would happen at any school which decides not to return to “traditional” classes in their buildings.

I have full confidence that administrators at each school will do everything they can to allow sports to take place, but won’t if they feel the risk is too great for the student-athletes.

This is an excerpt from a much longer document containing information on the reopening of high school sports.

School administrators have likely had a much shorter summer break this year than ever, if they were able to even have one.

This is an excerpt from a much longer document containing information on the reopening of high school sports.

Hats off to the people who have worked tirelessly to organize a monumental undertaking such as this, and here’s hoping things go smoothly and this stupid coronavirus will go away soon.

This is an excerpt from a much longer document containing information on the reopening of high school sports.
This is an excerpt from a much longer document containing information on the reopening of high school sports.