NCDHHS identifies safe sports, recommends avoiding others in updated guidelines
Posted September 14, 2020 5:16 p.m. EDT
https://www.highschoolot.com/ncdhhs-identifies-safe-sports-recommends-avoiding-others-in-updated-guidelines/19286126/Posted September 14, 2020 5:16 p.m. EDT
Updated September 14, 2020 5:42 p.m. EDT
By Nick Stevens, HighSchoolOT managing editor
RALEIGH, N.C. — The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services released updated guidelines for youth and amateur sports on Monday, identifying specific sports it recommends can be played safely and which sports should be avoided.
Governor Roy Cooper's latest executive order does not restrict any specific sport from playing, but DHHS has guidelines that it "strong recommends" based on social distancing.
According to DHHS, sports it recommends can be played include golf, cycling, disc golf, track & field, curling, pickleball, badminton, swimming, diving, dancing, tennis singles, horseback riding, figure skating, and running. The department said these sports are considered safe because participants can maintain social distancing and any close contact is "limited and brief."
Soccer, baseball, volleyball, and softball can be played safely, according to DHHS, but recommends limiting tournaments where multiple teams may converge on one location. DHHS said these sports should be played outdoors and face coverings should be worn if possible.
There is another group of activities that DHHS says should not be be played due to the inability to maintain social distancing. Those sports include football, lacrosse, rugby, group dance, swimming relays or group swimming, tennis doubles, competitive cheer, basketball, wrestling, hockey, pairs figure skating, and crew."Organized sports in which participants cannot maintain social distancing are not recommended. These sports typically require coaches and athletes who are not from the same household or living unit to be in close proximity, which increases their potential for exposure to COVID-19," the DHHS guidance read. "For these sports, it is recommended that activities are limited to athletic conditioning, drills, and practices in which dummy players, sleds, punching bags and similar equipment are used but athletes are not playing the actual sport, itself. These activities can allow athletes to condition and prepare for sports if and when they are played in the future."
Any sporting events must comply with the governor's executive order in terms of maximum capacity though. For outdoor locations, the number of participants — including players, coaches, and staff — must be limited to 50 people per field or court. The number of spectators must be limited to 50 additional people.
Additional guidelines are also in place for face coverings, social distancing, use of equipment, use of water bottles and water fountains, communication, and other items. To view the full DHHS guidelines, click here.
The N.C. High School Athletic Association has suspended all sports until at least Nov. 4, when cross country and volleyball are scheduled to begin official practices. The decision was part of an overhaul of the 2020-2021 sports schedule, which the NCHSAA announced in August.
Meanwhile, the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association and the N.C. Christian Schools Association, both of which oversee high school sports for private schools in the state, have resumed some sports. The NCISAA will begin playing football games on Sept. 25.