Coronavirus canceled spring sports. Boise-area high schools plan for a summer return.
High school athletes lost their spring season to the coronavirus pandemic. But leaders of the 5A and 4A Southern Idaho Conference unveiled plans Tuesday for them to return to gyms, baseball diamonds and football fields this summer.
The plan moves in step with Gov. Brad Little’s Idaho Rebounds plan. Without any setbacks, athletes could return to practices as soon as June 1.
No games between schools can start until Idaho finishes Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds plan. That could come June 27, at the earliest. Fans can attend, if allowed to under the latest local health guidelines.
At no point this summer can teams leave the Treasure Valley for tournaments or camps. And they can’t bring any teams from outside the area into their school facilities.
“The No. 1 thing on everyone’s agenda is to not risk anyone’s health and to restore some sort of normalcy in our kids’ lives and our communities,” said Tom Shanahan, president of the 5A and 4A Southern Idaho Conferences.
The league developed the plan in consultation with the Central and Southwest public health districts, Shanahan said. It encourages keeping athletes in the same practice groups, social distancing of 6 feet and disinfecting surfaces and objects regularly through all phases.
Schools can add their own additional restrictions.
The plan doesn’t come with any enforcement procedures or penalties for violating it. Shanahan said the guidelines rely on a collective effort among the schools.
“The kids are going to follow the coaches’ lead,” he said.
The SIC’s return-to-play plan features its own phases to follow the Idaho Rebounds plan. Idaho is in Stage 2. During Stage 3, up to 20 athletes can work out in a gym. Only individual drills can take place.
Up to 50 athletes can share outdoor fields or stadiums as long as the conditioning and drills allow for social distancing. No game-like competitions are allowed.
Jason Warr, the activities director for the West Ada School District, said the first two weeks will consist mostly of checking in on students and teaching them new and healthy expectations.
“I’m not sure there’s going to be a lot of route running, drawing up plays or working on halfcourt plays for basketball,” Warr said. “It’s going to be, ‘Welcome back,’ check in on their emotional and mental well-being and start to introduce a different normal than we’ve had before.”
The guidelines loosen if the state moves to Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds plan, scheduled to start June 13. Up to 50 athletes can share a gym. More than 50 can use an outdoor facility. Schools can allow limited competition among practice groups.
Games, camps and tournaments can resume once Idaho exits Stage 4, scheduled for June 27. But large tournaments and jamborees won’t happen. Games or events will be limited to three teams, Warr said.
The plan comes with recommendations for each sport. For example, three basketball players can use a basket in Stage 3 before growing to up to five in Stage 4. Football cannot use any drills that encourage contact until all four stages are completed.
Warr cautioned not to view the dates as set in stone. The SIC will move in concert with state health guidelines, which must meet a host of criteria to advance. And the league’s own plans may change as new information or best practices come to light.
“We are going to go with what those professionals tell us,” Warr said.
The Southern Idaho Conference released its return-to-play plan the same day the national high school sports governing body revealed its own guidelines.
The guidelines from the National Federation of State High School Associations don’t list specific dates. They mirror many parts of the SIC’s plans but go a step further in several regards, including recommending temperature and health screenings for athletes and coaches prior to workouts.
Warr said the SIC’s plan already asks players to stay home if they’re sick, which should eliminate anyone with a fever. He said the West Ada School District has purchased hand-washing stations for every baseball and football stadium, as well as hand sanitizer and disinfectant.
“Our goals are to protect the health and safety of students, coaches and spectators,” Warr said. “At this point we’re more focused on our students and coaches. But that’s physically, emotionally and mentally.
“We’re trying to meet in the middle.”
This story was originally published May 20, 2020 at 3:18 PM.
