Youth sports could return in Alabama as soon as May 11.
A group of lawmakers and business leaders advising Gov. Kay Ivey issued a report today recommending that as a possible date to safely resume youth sports operations in the state. Ivey on Friday said she does not plan to take any immediate action on the recommendations in the plan.
Sporting activities at all levels were suspended a month ago due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The group advising Ivey, led by Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth and state Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, outlined the recommendations in a report called Reopen Alabama Responsibly.
The report is only a recommendation at this point.
It also does not include AHSAA high school sports. Those seasons ended when Gov. Ivey issued an order for all K-12 schools to finish the academic year at home.
While the report did recommend a date to resume youth sports, it did so with plenty of guidelines for how that would happen. The summary of the youth sports portion of the 162-page report read:
“Maintaining social distancing and following the measures recommended in this section will be critical to establishing safe and healthy operations of youth recreational activities and sports. The application of the recommendations may vary by sport; however, these measures should not exclude or largely deviate from how they are described in this section.”
The report detailed 10 protective measures that would need to be implemented for sports to return. They included properly spacing equipment to limit interaction, limiting the use of shared equipment and not allowing food and concession sales at the facilities.
Here is a list of recommended guidelines that the report said should be implemented along with additional league, municipal, county, state and CDC recommendations:
-- Ensure that all player equipment is properly spaced to limit interaction
-- Coaches, players, parents, and attendees are required to practice responsible social distancing when and where possible, especially in common areas (i.e. dugouts)
-- Limit the use of team-shared equipment and encourage the cleaning and sanitizing of this equipment after each use
-- Strictly monitor the health of each employee, coach, and player and require any individual with a fever or other symptoms of COVID-19 to not participate in team activities
-- Require all employees, officials, and coaches to wear PPE, especially facemasks where applicable
-- Encourage use of face masks by players and in close contact areas and situations where applicable
-- Facilities should increase frequency of cleaning and sanitizing measures especially in areas of high traffic, such as restrooms
-- No food or concession sales will be allowed at facilities
-- Public restrooms should be limited to a ͞one-in-one-out͟ policy
-- Practices and games should be scheduled to allow for additional time for teams and attendees to exit the premises before other teams and attendees enter
Here are some related stories on Friday’s recommendations to Gov. Kay Ivey:
Alabama doctors offices open up in May, plan recommends
As Alabama looks to reopen, state health official says people need to stay home
Masks and temperature checks? Rules vary by business in Alabama’s plan to reopen
‘Is it safe?’ Uncertainty looms despite proposal to reopen Alabama salons, tattoo shops
Small businesses optimistic with recommendations to re-open; caution urged