COVID-19 Reopening Guidance: Summer Sports
This guidance was created in consultation with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) as a resource for administrators to determine when and how districts and nonpublic schools may begin to engage in school sports seasons while keeping participants and spectators safe. It must be used in conjunction with all proclamations issued by the governor and guidance provided by the IDPH. Additional guidance will be provided by IHSAA and IGHSAU.
Beginning June 1, team organized practices for baseball and softball may begin unless circumstances dictate a change in date. Baseball and softball games may begin June 15, unless circumstances dictate a change in date. The following mitigation efforts are required to help ensure player, coach and spectator safety during practices and games:
• Post signage prominently indicating no one should attend or participate in practice or games if they currently have symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis in the last 14 days.
• No dugouts may be used for practices. Players’ items should be lined up against the fence at least six feet apart.
• Use of dugouts is permitted during games only.
• Parents must remain in their cars or drop off and pick up players after practice.
• Players should use their own gloves, helmets and bats as much as possible.
• Players must bring their own water/beverage to consume during and after practices and games. No shared drinking fountains, water stations, or coolers may be used.
• Coaches are responsible for ensuring social distancing is maintained between players as much as possible. This means additional spacing between players while playing catch, changing drills so that players remain spaced out, and no congregating of players while waiting to bat.
• Players must bring their own water/beverage to consume during and after practice. No shared drinking fountains, portable hydration stations or coolers may be used.
• Coaches must sanitize shared equipment before and after each practice and game.
• Players and coaches should check their temperatures before attending practices or games.
• Anyone with symptoms of illness is not allowed to practice or participate.
• Fans must not attend if they have symptoms of illness.
• Coaches should be knowledgeable of their students with pre-existing health conditions and work with school nurses or other health officials to take additional precautions as needed.
• Players should be encouraged to provide their own hand sanitizer.
• Coaches must ban the spitting of sunflower seed shells.
• Coaches are responsible for tracking absences for the purpose of noting potential COVID-19 cases.
• Schools must limit the use of bleachers for fans. Encourage fans to bring their own chairs or stand.
• Fans should practice social distancing between different household units and accept personal responsibility for public health guidelines.
• Schools must also implement any other reasonable measures under the circumstances of each school to ensure social distancing of staff, students and community members, increased hygiene practices and other public health measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 consistent with guidance issued by the IDPH.
• No concessions stands are permitted.
• Contact public health if a positive case of COVID-19 is reported.
In-person team organized activities for other sports remain suspended until July 1. For-profit businesses that provide sports training and that sell memberships are allowed to offer sports training as long as they follow the same guidelines as fitness centers/clubs, gymnasiums, health clubs, and health spas and can continue to operate for all sports.
Those who have questions may contact their school district administration. If they are unable to assist, they should be able to direct questions to the appropriate person. For additional COVID-19 guidance and information, visit the Department’s COVID-19 webpage.
