Welcome Back Fall Athletes!!!

It's been a while and we have missed you. So glad we are back and great to see so many out being physical. Below are a few new guidelines and information about the fall.  

Lyme-Old Lyme High School
Department of Athletics
Fall Sports 2020-2021
Covid-19 Athletic Protocols

Updated: 8/28/20

At 10:30 am on Thursday, August 27th, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) provided its member schools with an update regarding the status of fall sports. There continues to be a great deal of discussion and  potential misinformation about the fall sports season.
At this time, the CT Department of Public Health (DPH) and CIAC are in agreement about how to proceed between now and September 20th regarding athletic practices. In response to these new developments, LOLHS will initiate conditioning and skill development on a limited basis and in accordance with safety guidelines, which are included in the most recent CIAC communication, and have been adapted by LOLHS.
Practices will begin on Saturday, August 28th. It is important to emphasize that all fall athletic activities will be restricted to low risk conditioning and non-contact sport specific skill work, in cohorts of no larger than 10, through September 20th. We are asking athletes and parents to not ask coaches to move students athletes between cohorts. I have been working with the coaches on what is appropriate low risk conditioning and skill work. They are planning and working extremely hard to provide quality practices and maintain the safety of our athletes. 

The successful completion of this season rests with the underlying premise that students, and school personnel remain healthy. To that end, it is imperative that we stress with athletes the importance of remaining healthy and stemming the spread of COVID-19 through social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands and face, and following all the guidelines established by the CIAC,DPH, the school and the team while follow them when they are at home, in school and at practice. This season depends on students remaining healthy and that requires diligence at all times.
Our coaches will be communicating details about practices, protocols and team rules. LOLHS will be adopting the following guidelines for the fall of 2020 season. Please note that these could change at any time, at which point I have asked coaches to continuously provide updates.

1. Sanitation:
   
   • Wash hands before and after practices
     
   • Use sanitation breaks to hand sanitizer and wipes for equipment
     
   • Come to practice in clean workout appropriate clothing.
     
2. Locker-Rooms and bathroom:
   
   1. Same rules will apply to bathrooms Before and during practice as during the school day. No more than two students at a time in the bathroom. Students waiting must remain 6 feet apart outside the bathroom.
      
   2. There will be a locker-room schedule for teams and cohorts. Athletes must remain 6 feet apart while in the locker room. Coaches will be providing athletes with this schedule by Tuesday, Sept 1 and will be posted outside the locker room. 
      
   3. Student athletes are not allowed to leave personal belongings in the locker room. Back and other items will have to be brought to practice with the athlete.
      
3. Facilities:
   
   1. Once Volleyball players have entered the gym, they will not be permitted back into the school. The locker room will be available for bathroom room breaks once all athletes have changed and it has been sanitized. Volleyball athletes will leave the school through the gym doors.
      
   2. Swimming is more challenging as we will be using other facilities and possible multiple pools. We will follow the guidelines set by those facilities. The coach will be providing those guidelines.
      
   3. Football players will be required to wear masks on the bus and sit in separate seats to and from Valley. They are required to follow the LOLHS and VRHS protocols. While waiting for the bus at LOLHS students will wait in the commons at tables in the designated seats.
      
   4. All outdoor sports once outside will not be allowed back into the school. They are to bring their belongings with them to practice and will leave directly from practice to go home.
      
   5. Two porta johns have been placed on campus to use during practices. More will be ordered if we find we need too. 
      
   6. Athletes will not be allowed to hang around after practices.
      
   7. If  bad weather or an emergency were to cause athletes to go inside, they will be required to stay in the commons and sit at the table in marked spots.
      
4. Hydration: 
   
   1. Athletes are required to bring their own water bottle(s). They will not be permitted to share.
      
   2. Besure to bring plenty of water for the duration of practice, as water fountains will not be available and water will not be provided.
      
5. Face Coverings:
   
   1. Coaches will be required to wear masks during the duration of practice.
      
   2. Athletes will be required to wear mask
      
      1. When inside the school building, including locker rooms, bathroom and commons areas.
         
      2. When walking to and from practice
         
      3. When not engaged in physical activity, including stretching
         
      4. When within 6 feel of each other while receiving directions or information from the coaches.
         
6. Athletic training room:
   
   1. Athletes are not permitted to the AT room without an appointment.
      
   2. Only 1 student-athlete at a time is allowed in the AT room.
      
   3. If an Athlete is in need of medical attention the coaches will radio the AT to come to their location.
      
7. Screening:
   
   1. As with the school day, students will be required to self-screen. Coaches will be sending out additional information about screening and notifying the coaches.
      
   2. Any students who answer yes to any of the screening questions should NOT attend practice, stay home or go home. They should follow the school protocols on reporting.
      
8. Students who opt-out of in person instruction will NOT be permitted to participate in fall athletics.
   
9. Schedules/transportation: At this time the CIAC and DPH are working together more data once schools open up. Once we have been updated on the fall season past Sept 20th, we will release schedules and transportation guidelines.
   
10. Spectator: 
    
    1. At this time no spectators are allowed on campus. We ask that if you are picking up your student athlete you remain in your vehicle. 
       
    2. Once games begin we will reevaluate spectators being on campus.
       

We will also be hosting virtual team meetings with head coaches and myself in the upcoming weeks. Stay tuned for those dates and times. Please do your best to email your students-athletes coach with any questions or clarifications. At this time, I have asked all coaches that in-person conversations must take place virtually or via telephone. If at any time you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected].

Thank you for your support and understanding,
Hildie Heck
Athletic Director