The news that high school softball and baseball players and fans have been patiently waiting for has been announced and is good news! Governor Kim Reynolds has given the green light to the teams to begin preparations for their season following the two-month suspension of activities that forced the entire track and golf seasons to be cancelled. Both the IGHSAU Board of Directors and the IHSAA Board of Control also approved going ahead with the season under Iowa Department of Education (IDE) guidelines. Practices will open on June 1, with the first games occurring on June 15 and fans will be permitted to attend.
Member schools are to follow the reopening guidance procedures, based on conversations with both state-governing organizations along with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Governor Reynolds office. “The IHSAA thanks Dr. Ann Lebo (executive director of the Iowa Department of Education), Governor Reynolds, Dr. Pedati of the IDPH and all others who have worked diligently to develop these guidelines to help us conduct a baseball season for the student-athletes of Iowa,” stated IHSAA executive director Tom Keating. “We trust that our administrators, coaches, umpires and fans will responsibly follow the guidelines already in place to keep themselves and each other safe. This is terrific news and is a step toward getting our student-athletes reconnected to the activities that mean so much to them.”
“The guidelines laid out by the IDE and the IDPH will enable us to safely move forward with a softball season this summer,” stated IGHSAU executive director Jean Berger. “We are grateful for their leadership and support. We know the games will have different circumstances and that we will all have to work together to keep everyone safe, but we are confident that we are up to this challenge.” Be sure to check the websites of both organizations in the coming days for more guidance specific to each, along with a list of FAQ to help both players and fans.
The state tournament sites of Rogers Sports Complex in Fort Dodge for softball and Principal Park in Des Moines for baseball will remain the same (Editor’s note-Be watching both the Eagle and Monitor for more information specific to Eagle Grove and C-G-D, respectively, as it pertains to each school’s plans for the summer schedule. Complete revised schedules for each will be printed here when they are available).
Iowa Department of Education Guidelines-Summer Sports
For coaches & student-athletes at practices starting June 1:
-A sign posted on the fence telling anyone with symptoms, of any illness or who has been in contact with anyone confirmed to have COVID-19, they cannot attend the practice.
-No players in the dugout. They must put bags and other items along the fence and six feet apart from each other.
-Parents stay in your cars to drop off or pick up players.
-Players please use your own gloves, helmets and masks.
-Coaches are to ensure, and maintain, social distancing during all drills.
-Players bring your own water/sports beverage, and please no sharing.
-Coaches must sanitize equipment before and after each practice.
-Players and coaches should check their temperatures before each practice.
-Coaches need to take precautions with any player with pre-existing health conditions.
-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, and contact the local public health office if a positive case is reported.
For coaches, student-athletes, parents and fans attending the games that start June 15:
-Post the same signage as above.
-Dugouts can be used, but only during games.
-Players use their own equipment as much as possible.
-Players bring and use their own water/sports beverage.
-Coaches must sanitize shared equipment before and after each game.
-Players and coaches must check their temperature before each game. Again, anyone with symptoms of illness is not allowed to participate.
-Schools must limit the use of bleachers for fans. Encourage fans to bring their own chairs or stand, and remember to practice social distancing.
-Fans must not attend if they have any symptoms of illness.
-No concession stands are permitted.
-Contact public health office if a positive case of COVID-19 is reported.
