Montgomery County schools are now requiring their student-athletes to wear masks during both practice and competition.
Danny Knott, the director of Human Resources for Montgomery County Public Schools, said on Monday the Virginia High School League (VHSL) “strongly encouraged” the wearing of masks for both practices and competitions, and the local school system is following through with the recommendation.
“[Wearing masks] is also recommended by the Virginia Health Department and the American Association of Pediatrics,” Knott said.
This comes on the heels of a requirement by the VHSL being changed to a recommendation in a clarification of new statewide measures and how they will impact sports. The changes include new guidelines for wearing facemasks during athletic competition and if and when spectators will be allowed to watch games.
In a statement released this past weekend, the VHSL said, ““The state’s athletic group is rescinding its requirement that face coverings be worn during training and competition and is reissuing its guidance to conform with the intent of Executive Order 72 that face masks are ‘strongly encouraged’ but not required. Each school may continue to exercise its discretion and judgment as to safety steps within its athletics programs as it pertains to face coverings. “
“With the support of the governor’s office and our VHSL Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, the VHSL is requiring each school to follow the recommendations of the Virginia Department of Health and the American Academy of Pediatrics,” said VHSL Executive Director, Dr. John W. “Billy” Haun.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, individuals who participate in, attend or organize sports activities should consider the potential level of risk for transmitting COVID-19 associated with certain sports before deciding to participate. COVID-19 is spread by close contact between infectious individuals (who may or may not be symptomatic).
In line with the Centers for Disease Control (DCD) and Prevention Considerations for Youth Sports, the Virginia Department of Health recommends that participants and organizers of sports activities consider the following to help assess the risk of spread during a particular sport:
- The physical closeness of players and the length of time that players are close to each other or to staff.
- The amount of necessary touching of shared equipment and gear (e.g., protective gear, balls, bats, racquets, mats, or water bottles).
- The ability to engage in social distancing while not actively engaged in play (e.g., during practice, on the sideline, or in the dugout).
- The age of the players.
- Whether the players are at a higher risk of developing serious disease.
- The size of the team. Limit any nonessential visitors, spectators, volunteers and activities involving external groups or organizations.
- Travel outside of the local community.
- The setting in which the sport is typically played (e.g. indoors vs. outdoors).
The VDH says wearing masks is especially important during indoor competition and practices. Wearing masks is also important in shared spaces such as locker rooms and during shared transportation (including carpooling) to/from an event.
Masks should also be worn by coaches, officials, spectators and volunteers at all times, and coaches and/or officials should monitor proper use. Individual outdoor sports that do not involve close contact such as golf and singles tennis may not necessitate wearing a mask.
There are some sports in which the mask could become a choking hazard or inadvertently impair vision and should not be worn, such as cheerleading-tumbling/stunting, gymnastics, wrestling and water sports.
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Executive Order 72 on Thursday that includes capacity limits.
For sports played indoors, spectators must be limited to 25 persons per field (indoor courts).
For sports played outdoors, spectators are limited to two guests per player.
So far, no parents or coaches have spoken for or against the requirement that masks be worn. Competition in Montgomery County schools is not expected to start until Jan. 1.
