Western Athletic Conference
Berne-Knox-Westerlo ⸰ Canajoharie ⸰ Duanesburg ⸰ Fonda-Fultonville
Fort Plain ⸰ Galway ⸰ Mayfield ⸰ Mekeel ⸰ Middleburgh ⸰ Northville ⸰ Notre
Dame-Bishop Gibbons ⸰ Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville ⸰ Schoharie
Return to Interscholastic Athletics Spring Sports Guidelines
The districts within the Western Athletic Conference are dedicated to minimizing risk to our athletes, coaches, event personnel and communities. With that in mind all districts will be adhering to the following guidelines:
General:
- In accordance with NYSDOH guidance, all athletes and coaches must ensure a distance of at least six feet is maintained among individuals at all times, whether indoor or outdoor, unless safety or the core activity (e.g. practicing, playing) requires a shorter distance.
- All coaches and athletes will wear league approved face masks at all times.
- All athletes and coaches will be screened (temperature check and COVID symptom attestation form) prior to practices and contests. Visiting teams should complete the screening prior to loading the bus(es). Athletes/coaches answering yes to any COVID question and/or running a temperature or 100 degrees or greater should be sent home
- The host district will provide hand sanitizing stations.
- The host district will ensure that athletic facilities are properly cleaned prior to and after an athletic event.
Athletes:
- Athletes will wear approved face coverings at all times, including, but not limited to, on buses, transitioning to and from an athletic site, in huddles, during non-strenuous warm-ups and during competition.
- No hugging, high fives, shaking hands, or fist bumps.
- Athletes should not wear another athlete's clothing, not share personal hygiene items and not share towels.
- Athletes should arrive at the contest in uniform as no locker rooms will be available.
- Athletes should bring their own water bottle to practices and games.
- Athletes who are not feeling well are requested to stay home from practices and contests.
Coaches:
- Wear approved face coverings at all times
- Bring a bag for storage of their personal supplies.
- Clean all personal coaching gear after each practice/contest.
- Follow cleaning protocols for supplies/equipment after each practice/contest.
- Communicate guidelines/expectations in a clear manner.
- Consider “cohorting" athletes during practices/workouts.
- Maintain accurate records of athletes attending practices/contests and submit weekly to the Athletic Director.
Parents:
- Have students wash hands/sanitize and shower as soon as possible after a practice or contest.
- Clean/disinfect an athlete's personal equipment after each practice/contest.
- Consider clearly labeling a child's personal items.
- Considerations for extra items to include in an athlete's bag:
- Water bottle
- Extra bottled water, drinks (in plastic containers only)
- Towel
- Hand sanitizer
- Extra face coverings (in a ziplock bag)
5. Keep ill children from attending practices and contests. Spectators:
- Each athlete will receive four WAC passes, which can be distributed as the athlete sees fit
- Spectators must have a pass and complete all COVID protocols required by the host school
- All spectators must wear a mask and practice social distancing at all times. Failure to do so will result in removal from the contest.
Working together we can minimize the risk of exposure at athletic events and ensure that the season can be maintained from start to finish.
Sport Considerations
Baseball/Softball
The NYSDOH has determined that Baseball and Softball are low-risk sports (greatest ability to maintain physical distance and/or be performed individually; greatest ability to (1) avoid touching of shared equipment, (2) clean and disinfect any equipment between uses by different individuals, or (3) not use shared equipment at all).
General Considerations:
- Only the scorekeeper shall touch/handle the scoresheet.
- Disinfect the bench/dugout prior to competition.
- Teams will use their own baseballs when they are in the field. A pitcher should not use a ball provided by the other team.
- When a team comes off the field, they do not leave the game ball on the field 5. One individual in the home dugout should be appointed to handle game balls which includes entering a ball into a game, collecting used game balls, and sanitizing balls as needed.
a. Every half inning should be started with a new or sanitized game ball; previously used game balls should be collected and sanitized immediately for re-entry into the game at a later time. Balls will be tossed to the catcher to be put back in play.
b. Umpires are not required to collect or handle game balls at any time. c. If a ball is hit foul and goes outside of field, it should be sanitized before re-entering play.
5. Sanitize bases after each contest.
6. A hand sanitizing station must be provided at the entry and exit to a dug out and be used by players when they enter and exit
7. Sunflower seeds or any type of food that encourages spitting is not allowed in or around the playing field.
8. Suspend handshakes, fist bumps and similar gestures prior to and following the pregame conference in addition to at the conclusion of the game.
9. A socially distanced plate conference with only the umpires and head coaches will be conducted for game/ground rules, etc.
a. Each team shall provide the umpire a lineup card; teams may exchange paper lineups at the plate or make arrangements prior to the game to share lineups (examples: teams post lineups in dugout, send a digital photo, etc.).
Track and Field
The NYSDOH has determined that track & field is a low-risk sport (greatest ability to maintain physical distance and/or be performed individually; greatest ability to (1) avoid touching of shared equipment, (2) clean and disinfect any equipment between uses by different individuals, or (3) not use shared equipment at all).
General Considerations:
- Discus and Shot Put should enforce social distancing for all athletes and officials. a. To limit contact, athletes can provide their own implements (that pass inspection) and retrieve their own implements after all throws. b. If athletes can’t provide their own implements, then it is recommended that implements be sanitized between each use.
- Long Jump and Triple Jump should enforce social distancing for all athletes and officials.
- High Jump and Pole Vault should enforce social distancing for all athletes and officials. a. To lower the risk of these events, pits may be covered by a tarp that is removed and disinfected after each athlete use (therefore multiple tarps needed to keep the event moving) or individuals may bring their own mat or tarp for use on pits. b. A disinfectant spray may also be used as an alternative to using tarps to cover but disinfecting must take place following each athlete's use.
c. To limit contact, athletes should not share vaulting poles.
4. Vertical jumpers may complete all three of their jumps consecutively with three (3) minutes being permitted for each jump.
5. 100M and Straight Hurdles may use every other lane to assist with distancing.
a. Blocks should be disinfected after each heat / race.
b. Baskets are not recommended at the start line for apparel.