During his daily COVID-19 update on Thursday, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson indicated the first phase of the return of team sports will begin next Monday. The athletic department of the Mountain Home School District is preparing for the return of contact and non-contact sports with specific restrictions set by the Arkansas Department of Health.
Mountain Home Athletic Director Mitch Huskey says while some more information needs to be given, the governor’s announcement last week has provided local athletes a glimmer of hope.
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General requirements set by the health department include maintaining a minimum physical distancing of 6 feet between participants at all times, except when actively participating in a sports activity. Athletes, coaches and other staff must be excluded from practice, if they had a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher in the previous two days, have a cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat or the loss of taste or smell or had contact with someone known to be infected with COVID-19 within the previous 14 days.
In addition, face coverings for the nose and mouth are required for everyone ages 10 and older. Athletes must were a face covering when not actively participating in an activity, and the coverings or masks must be warn in sports where a face covering is not inhibitory. Coaches and staff must wear a face covering at all times.
Huskey says while the athletic staff is looking to start practice, student athlete safety has to be the highest priority.
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Huskey adds during a recent webinar, the Arkansas Activities Association indicated a possibility of sports physical examinations being extended from one year to two years, but that is no longer going to be the case.
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The directive for community and school-sponsored team sports does not include intercollegiate athletics. The health department’s directive can be found by clicking here.
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