WAYNE HILLS ATHLETICS

OPEN LETTER TO PARENTS

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to Wayne Hills Athletics - Whether you are returning to us or this is your first time with our programs, there are many new processes and procedures for the Summer Open Session and the Fall Preseason that the Wayne Township Board of Education has adopted in alignment with the State of New Jersey’s Covid-19 specific task force requirements. 

Attached you will find very important information that is in need of your complete honesty and attention to ensure the safety of all of our students and our coaching and support staff. As the frontline of student return to school facilities throughout the State of New Jersey, our partnership with you, our Wayne Families, will prove the vital testing ground that will likely inform decisions regarding returning to school in September and the manner in which we return to some semblance of normalcy since the initial quarantine was enacted Statewide. 

Necessary Checklist for Student Involvement:

Have I....

• registered my child using the rSchool online registration process?

• filled out and signed and submitted the Health History Update form?

  • Note: this is necessary for ALL athletes. 

• acquired and submitted a doctor completed and signed Sports Physical?

  • Note: this is necessary for all first time athletes.

• Reviewed all Return to Play Guidelines for my family’s compliance and to ensure the safety of all the young people participating in sport practices?

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure the health and safety of all our students and staff. Your continued support is essential to our success.

Jeff DiLollo

Athletic Director 

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DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS   

 

“ RETURN TO PLAY ”

GUIDELINES PHASE 1: CONDITIONING

Director of Athletics / Covid-19 Contact  

Jeff DiLollo, Wayne Hills

jdilollo@wayneschools.com

 

Student Athlete Pre-screen Personnel

- Athletic Training Staff -

Gary Maiella: gmaiella@wayneschools.com

Andrew Potts: apotts@wayneschools.com

 

Medical Physical Clearance

- Nursing Staff -

Cathryn Eck: ceck@wayneschools.com

Judy Daly: jdaly@wayneschools.com

 

Registration Support 

- Administrative Assistant Staff - 

Lisa Buschmann: lbuschmann@wayneschools.com

 

RETURN TO PLAY GUIDELINES

PHASE 1: CONDITIONING 

JULY 20, 2020 

THE WAYNE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES BY THE NJSIAA, HAS DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING “RETURN TO PLAY” PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES FOR PHASE I: CONDITIONING.

PHYSICALS AND REGISTRATION:  Student-athletes must be medically cleared by the athletic department, which includes an updated physical form signed by the school physician (NJOI), Registration on rSchool, and completion of the newly added Covid-19 questions under the Health History portion of the registration. 

1. Any student-athlete who presently has COVID-19, or who have tested positive for COVID-19, shall provide clearance from a physician before he/she will be permitted to participate in workouts.  

2. Any student-athletes who have pre-existing medical conditions and/or are immunocompromised (e.g., diabetes, asthma, auto-immune disorders, etc.) shall provide clearance from a physician before he/she will be permitted to participate in workouts.  

PRE-SCREENING:  Each day all coaches, student-athletes, and staff must clear the pre-screening process before they are permitted to participate in the workouts.  This cannot be administered by the coaches.  *STUDENTS MUST BRING THEIR OWN DRINK and FACE COVERING to each workout.  The three enumerated items below will take place from the student-athlete’s vehicle.  STUDENT-ATHLETES CANNOT BE DROPPED OFF UNLESS THEY ARE PRE-SCREENED PRIOR TO A PARENT DEPARTURE FROM CAMPUS.  Parents / Guardians must form a line at the front of the school for pre-screening:

1. The Health History Update form must be completed seven (7) days prior to the start of the first workout session.  This form only needs to be completed one time.  Any athlete that does not have a COVID-19 Questionnaire on file will not be permitted to participate in any workouts.                     

2. The COVID-19 Screening Questions Google Form must be completed for each day of conditioning for Phase I.  *THIS FORM WILL BE SUBMITTED DIGITALLY EACH DAY OF CONDITIONING FOR EACH STUDENT-ATHLETE PRIOR TO 6:30AM. NO STUDENT MAY EXIT FROM THEIR VEHICLE WITHOUT THIS COMPLETED.

3. The Wayne Hills Athletic Trainers (ATC) and staff will be responsible for conducting the daily pre-screening process which includes a review of the forms mentioned above and a temperature check. Any individual who answers “yes” to any question on the questionnaire, or who has a temperature greater than 100.4°F, shall not be permitted to participate in the workout and shall be required to return home.  Any individual who answers “yes” to any question on the questionnaire shall be required to provide clearance from a physician before they will be permitted to resume participation in the workouts.  

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION  

 

1. The Athletic Director will be the administrator primarily responsible for responding to and addressing COVID-19 related issues; how it will conduct screenings (including administration of a screening questionnaire and temperate checks); how it will respond to a positive COVID-19 test or a student-athlete or coach who is symptomatic including, without limitation, contact tracing and a communication plan with parents, student- athletes, coaches, and appropriate health authorities.

2. The WTPS “Emergency Action Plan” is being examined and is a “living document” shared with all stakeholders and personnel with regard to any changes, if any, that may be needed to respond to emergencies, including those related to COVID-19.  Shelter will be provided in the case of an injury, lightning, or other emergency. 

3. The ATC will handle and respond to the routine treatment and care of student-athletes who may be injured during workouts, including both on the field and in the training room.

4. The Athletic Director and Coaches will stagger arrival and departure times of all sports teams between the hours of 7:00am-10:00am M-T-W-TH of each week during Phase I.  Exact dates and times will be shared by the coaches.

WORKOUT

1. Workouts shall be no more than ninety (90) minutes in duration and shall include a ten (10) minute warm-up, and a ten (10) minute cool down. b. Only one workout per day is permitted and there must be one (1) day of rest per every seven (7) days. c. All workouts shall take place outside during PHASE 1.

2. Access to workouts must be limited to student-athletes, coaches, and appropriate school personnel.  There shall not be any physical contact, of any kind, between student-athletes and coaches during PHASE 1. 

3. Throughout PHASE 1, workouts shall be limited to conditioning, skill sets, and sport-specific non-contact drills. 

4. Coaches will have pre-drawn structured workouts for the duration of the session.

5. Coaches must be CPR/AED/First Aid Certified and have completed the NJSIAA mandated Heat Acclimatization and Concussion in Sports modules prior to the first day of conditioning in Phase I.

6. Workouts shall always comply with the NJSIAA Heat Participation Policy. 

 

During all workouts, coaches and staff are reminded to be alert for any students exhibiting signs of distress regarding mental health secondary to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

FACE COVERINGS

1. Student-athletes who are engaged in high-intensity aerobic activity, e.g., running, sprinting, etc., do NOT need to wear face coverings during the period of the aerobic activity.  Once the aerobic activity is over, student- athletes shall wear face coverings. 

2. Student-athletes who are not engaged in high-intensity aerobic activity, e.g., sitting on the bench, reviewing plays, watching videos, waiting in line, etc., are encouraged to wear face coverings. 

3. Coaches and district personnel must wear face coverings at all times. 

GROUPINGS / SOCIAL DISTANCING

1. No more than ten (10) student-athletes may be grouped together in a single area and the groups should be pre-determined by the coach prior to the start of the workout. 

2. Social distancing of at least six (6) feet shall be maintained between student-athletes and staff at all times, including within the ten (10) student-athlete groupings. 

3. Once student groupings are determined, student-athletes may not switch to another grouping, even for another sport. 

4. More than one group of student-athletes can be in a single area, provided there is twelve (12) to eighteen (18) feet between each group of student-athletes.  

5. Groupings must stay together throughout the entirety of PHASE 1. 

6. There shall not be celebratory contact, e.g., fist bumps, high-fives, huddles, etc. 

7. Student-athletes who participate in more than one sport are encouraged to be grouped with their fall sports teammates. 

SPORTS EQUIPMENT

1. Sports equipment shall not be shared at any time during PHASE 1. 

2. Each student-athlete shall bring individual water bottles to each workout for his/her own personal consumption. There shall not be any trading or sharing of water bottles. 

3. All sports equipment and touchpoints (e.g., benches, agility cones, ladders, clipboards, etc.) must be cleaned and disinfected after each workout with EPA approved cleaners and disinfectants against COVID-19. 

LOCKER ROOMS / RESTROOMS

1. Student-athletes shall not have access to locker rooms at any time.  

2. Restroom access will be communicated by the coaches (not the restrooms in the locker room).

3. Restrooms shall be cleaned and disinfected regularly with EPA approved cleaners and disinfectants against COVID-19. 

4. Restrooms use shall be limited to one person at a time. 

5. To the fullest extent possible, appropriate social distancing shall be maintained, and face coverings are worn when more than one student-athlete is in the restroom. 

 

HYGIENE

1. Students and staff should make every effort to wash their hands as often as possible including before and after the workout. 

2. Hand sanitizer will be accessible at all times. 

3. Student-athletes shall wear their workout gear to the workout and shall return home in the same workout gear. 

4. There shall be no spitting, chewing seeds or gum during the workout. 

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PHASE 1: PRACTICE SCHEDULE 

 

Weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday during Phase I

Starting: July 20, 2020
 

FOOTBALL (Practice Field / Turf)

7:00AM - PRESCREENING

7:15AM - WARMUP

7:25AM - CONDITIONING / WORKOUT

8:35AM - COOL DOWN 

 

FIELD HOCKEY (Grass Field / ½ Turf at 8am) Tuesday and Thursday Only

7:30AM - PRESCREENING

7:45AM - WARMUP

7:55AM - CONDITIONING / WORKOUT

9:05AM - COOL DOWN 

 

CROSS COUNTRY (Open Grass Upper Field)

8:00AM - PRESCREENING

8:15AM - WARMUP

8:25AM - CONDITIONING / WORKOUT

9:35AM - COOL DOWN 

 

BOYS SOCCER (Grass Soccer Fields / ½ Turf 9am)

8:30AM - PRESCREENING

8:45AM - WARM UP

8:55AM - CONDITIONING / WORKOUT

10:05AM - COOL DOWN 

 

GIRLS SOCCER (Grass Soccer Fields / ½ Turf 9:30am) Monday and Thursday Only 

9:00AM - PRESCREENING

9:15AM - WARMUP

9:25AM - CONDITIONING / WORKOUT

10:35AM - COOL DOWN

GIRLS TENNIS, SIDELINE CHEER, GYMNASTICS, GIRLS VOLLEYBALL NOT STARTING UNTIL PHASE II AT THE EARLIEST.