Sports are Back

It has been almost a full year since students have been out of school and out of their sports. After a long time of planning and waiting the fall sports season on the high school level was set to start on February 13th, 2021. However, because of the snow, ice, and freezing temperatures on the 13th of Saturday almost all sports had to have a virtual practice. The football players were really the only sport to go on school campuses to pick up gear and equipment in freezing temperatures. The practice of the 15th of February, a Monday was also canceled and made virtual once again due to weather. The next day Howard County sports finally began. 

As one can imagine there are a lot of procedures and protocols to follow because of the pandemic. Howard County has implemented a system to contact trace COVID among the athletes. Every athlete who will be going on campus must scan a QR code and fill out the COVID survey before attending every practice. If an athlete fails to do so they will not be able to practice that day. The questions are standard, asking for symptoms and where you have been. This system will be used at least for the next few months in Howard County. 

When coaches and athletes are at practice masks are required to be worn at all times except during conditioning. Locker rooms and the general school buildings will be closed to athletes. So they will have to bring their gear and equipment to and from practice. Water bottles are also not allowed to be shared and there will still be an effort to keep six feet away from others. 

Athletes finally get to see their teammates again and now have an outlet in their life. Coaches are glad to be able to see their athletes and be able to coach again. Parents are excited and joyous for their children because they get to do something they enjoy during this hard time. Athletes, coaches, and parents are incredibly happy, excited, and grateful that sports are starting up again thanks to the Howard County sports coordinators.