Return to Athletics

Dear Harrison Community,

This past week, sports with Low and Moderate Risk for Covid-19 transmission successfully started.  It was great to see our student athletes back, safely interacting with one another and competing. 

The Governor has now authorized the Westchester Department of Health to determine if sports with a High Risk for Covid-19 transmission can be approved for play.  We will open Family ID registration for Winter Sports with High Risk for Covid-19 transmission (Wrestling, Boys/Girls Basketball, Cheerleading and Hockey) starting January 26th at 8am. Opening registration ahead of the formal approval from WDOH ensures enough time to process registrations so that students may begin practices and games as soon as the start date is announced.  In the event that a sport(s) is not approved, you will be notified. 

Modified sports (middle school) have not yet been approved by Section 1 Athletics.  If modified sports are not approved, Harrison will provide an organized sport-specific experience for our middle school athletes.

Many elements of the process that have been out of our control,  but we are working tirelessly to provide a meaningful and authentic athletic experience for all student athletes. Thank you for your support of our efforts and student athletes.

I will continue to share the most up to date information with you as it becomes available.

Sincerely,

Christopher Galano
Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics

 

• Face coverings are required for all athletes and athletic staff.

• Acceptable masks include cloth or fabric masks with ear loops or Gators that include at least two ply material.  Gators that meet these specifications are only approved for outdoor sports and may not be used for indoor sports.

• If an athlete gets to a point where they deem the mask is intolerable: 

  • Athletes will have a designated area for your practice location that they will remove themselves from the practice and take the period of time they need with the mask off in this area. Athletes will remain in this area until they can tolerate the mask and return to practice/game/sideline. 

    • Designated Areas 

      • Turf field - fence on home bleachers standing 12 ft. apart

      • Grass Soccer Field:  fence along the first base side of the baseball field

      • Lower Grass Fields:   walk over to shot put area 

      • Tennis courts - outside fence area off walkway. 

      • XC - when running on/off campus, stop/move to side for break as needed. 

      • Area will be monitored by Athletic Trainer, Athletic Supervisor and Safety Personnel
         

• All student athletes must provide their own face coverings

  • Additional masks will be available at the safety table if a mask becomes soiled or unusable. 

• Presentation, delivery, emulation and enforcement of this by the coaching staff is not only required, but crucial to the success of continuing the fall season. 

• Requirements as it stands today:

  • Athletes, Coaches, Athletic Staff arrive with masks on.

  • Athletes' personal areas will be marked by coaches with dome cones with appropriate spacing for personal belongings/bags, coolers, water, equipment (use both sides of the field to spread out athletes). 

  • Masks remain on while getting on cleats, warming up, drills, team meetings...for the entire length of practice/games.

  • Team talks, meetings - maintain social distance while having team meetings. No huddles (just gather - ‘bring it in’ does not mean what it use to)

  • Masks breaks - provide team mask breaks every 10-15 minutes as you see the need through workouts. 

  • If an athlete gets to a point where they deem the mask is intolerable: 
     

• Clarification of “can not tolerate” - If an athlete says they can not tolerate the mask they cannot simply remove the mask and continue with the team activity (drill, games, meetings). They can absolutely remove the mask when not tolerated, but must also remove themselves from the area to the designated area of mask breaks. 

Student Athletes: Athletes are expected to wear masks at all times.  During activity, if the athlete can not tolerate wearing a mask they may take a mask break in a designated area.  If a mask inadvertently comes off the nose and/or mouth during play, the athlete must return to wearing the mask properly as soon as possible. 

Students and coaches must ensure a distance of at least six feet is maintained among individuals at all times, whether indoor or outdoor.  If a shorter distance is required for safety or the core activity (e.g. practicing, playing) required a shorter distance players must wear acceptable face coverings unless players are unable to tolerate a face covering for the physical activity.  Any player not engaged in physical activity MUST be wearing their face covering at all times.

Spectators:  All individuals on our campus must wear a mask at all times. Spectators must maintain six feet of physical distance between other individuals and/or family/household units at all times and all spectators must wear a face cover.

Coaches: All school personnel must wear a face covering at all times.  This includes coaches, trainers, security and any other personnel.  Students and coaches must ensure a distance of at least six feet is maintained among individuals at all times, whether indoor or outdoor.

All school personnel 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.

If a shorter distance is required, individuals must wear acceptable face coverings, unless players are unable to tolerate a face covering for the physical activity (e.g. practicing, playing) provided, however, that coaches, trainers and other individuals who are not directly engaged in physical activity are require to wear a face covering.

Coaches (All Sports):

• Coaches will communicate team protocols and guidelines in a clear manner to students and parents. 

• Workouts/practices will be conducted in “cohorts” of same students always training and rotating together in practice to limit exposure if someone develops an infection.

• Keep accurate records of those athletes and staff who attend each practice for the purpose of contract tracing

Students (All Sports): 

• Students are responsible for their own supplies. 
• Students should wear their own appropriate workout clothing (do not share clothing), and individual clothing/towels should be washed and cleaned after every workout immediately upon returning home. 
• Bring and use your own water bottle.

Student Athletes and Coaches:

• All employees and students must complete a digital survey daily which requires them to answer COVID-19 screening questions.

• If a student athlete does not have the pass on their phone, a coach will take the students temperature and have the students fill out the digital questionnaire. 

Spectators:

• Each player on the roster is permitted two spectators to a home outdoor contest.   

• The spectator must come to the game and check in with the staff declaring which student athlete they are attending for. 

• All spectators will use a QR scanner to review and answer the digital screening questions.  

• The digital screening will produce a pass that either permits the spectators into the facility or will designate them otherwise.

• To attend a Harrison home OUTDOOR athletic event you must fill out the following Home Spectator Gameday Screening form on the day of the scheduled event.   
  
  **INDOOR SPORTS  - NO SPECTATORS ALLOWED**

Cleaning and Disinfection:  A daily, mandatory cleaning checklist will be maintained by each school’s custodial crew, which will include daily cleaning of gymnasiums, bathrooms, locker rooms and offices.  Cleaning and disinfecting will focus on high touch points such as tables, chairs, door knobs, light switches and any sport equipment used that day.  HCSD has purchased electrostatic disinfectant applicators that will be used on high touch points such as bleachers, lockers, benches, bathrooms and the fitness center. 

HCSD will provide and maintain hand hygiene stations on site, as follows:

• For handwashing: soap, running warm water, and disposable paper towels. 

• For hand sanitizing: an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol for areas where handwashing facilities may not be available or practical for use by employees and patrons/players/spectators.

Bus transportation will be provided to and from away contests.  Parents are encouraged to drop-off and pick-up students each day to reduce the number of students riding the bus.  

School Bus Safety Protocols: Consistent with state-issued public school transportation and New York State Department of Health guidance, students and adults who ride school buses are required to wear masks. 

• Bus windows will be open for ventilation when possible. 

• High contact areas will be disinfected between morning and afternoon bus runs.  

• School buses will be cleaned and disinfected daily.  

Students: 

• The district will limit students to one per seat which is 50% or less of full bus capacity (approximately 21 students per bus). 

• Students are not permitted to sit together, with the exception that siblings from the same household may sit together.  

• All students on school buses will be required to wear a face mask at all times (e.g., entering, exiting, and while seated), unless a disability or medical condition prohibits wearing of a face covering.  If a student does not have a mask, one will be provided.  

• Eating and drinking is not allowed on school buses and will be strictly enforced. 

Drivers and Monitors: 

• School bus drivers will wear a face mask unless it inhibits their ability to drive.

• Drivers and monitors will be trained regarding the use of PPE, social distancing, and symptoms associated with COVID-19.  

• Drivers and monitors will complete daily COVID-19 symptom screening before beginning bus routes.  

• Masks and gloves will be provided to drivers and monitors; monitors will wear masks at all times, and gloves will be worn when direct contact with students. 

Locker Rooms

• Students are not to leave equipment and or clothes in the locker room.  They must bring it home to clean each day.  
• Social distancing of six feet and mask wearing is required in all areas.

Fitness Center

• 16 people will be the maximum number of students with one fitness instructor permitted to be working out.

• Clean and disinfect equipment before and after each use.

• Time slots will be created for students to sign up for in advance.

• All students must show their CrisisGo iPass to gain entry.

• If spotting is required, encourage family members to spot when possible.  If there is no family member available, spotters must wear a mask and return to their designated area as soon as the exercise is completed. 

• Exposed & Infected Individuals: For students and staff members who are exposed to, or infected with, COVID-19, HCSD will follow the standards for isolation, quarantine, and return to school dictated by the New York State Department of Health, in consultation with our school district physician.  Students and staff members will not be permitted to return to school until permitted according to NYSDOH standards.
   

• Contact Tracing: HCSD will comply with all requests from the New York State Department of Health for information to support contact tracing when a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 occurs, as permitted by applicable privacy laws.  
   

• Communication: In the event of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, HCSD will communicate with parents and staff to provide necessary information, as permitted under applicable privacy laws, to ensure their safety.  This information may include dates and locations of suspected or confirmed locations, measures HCSD is taking to contain the spread of the virus, recommended actions as advised by the NYSDOH, and interim alternative arrangements to ensure the continuity of learning. 

Hygiene, Cleaning, and Disinfection: In the event a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, HCSD will follow cleaning and disinfection protocols recommended by the NYSDOH and CDC.  This may require closing or restricting access to parts of the school campus so that cleaning and disinfection can occur.  If it becomes necessary to clean/disinfect following a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, parents and staff members will be informed of the spaces affected, the timeline for completing the cleaning/disinfection, and alternative arrangements while this occurs.

To: All Opponents
Re: Visiting Team Protocols and Requirements

Harrison CSD is looking forward to hosting your school, and in partnership with you, providing a safe and healthy experience for our student athletes and staff. Below you will find our district protocol that is expected to be followed by all visiting teams. If you cannot meet these protocols, please call my office as soon as possible.

Health Screening:

• All school and team personnel will have completed and successfully passed a COVID-19 symptom clearance process administered by your district prior to arriving at our campus.
• Face Coverings/Masks:
• All school and team personnel must wear a face covering at all times on our campus. In the event that a student athlete and/or coach deems the face covering to be intolerable, they are to go to a socially distanced location for a mask break. They can rejoin the activity once they are able to tolerate the face covering.

Spectators:

• Out of an abundance of caution in this COVD-19 climate, spectators of visiting teams are not permitted to attend contests at any of our facilities.

Bench Areas:

• All team personnel must be socially distant wearing their face covering in their bench area.

Water:

• Teams are expected to come with their own water bottles filled. There will be a refilling station on site managed by a Harrison Athletic Department staff member. This person will be wearing gloves and is the only person who can touch and distribute water.

Bus Drop off and Pick Up:

• School buses that are for soccer and field hockey will turn right when they get on our campus and head straight to the turf field. Tennis will make a left when entering the campus and pull up next to our courts. Please ensure your coach and team bus driver exchange phone numbers for a rapid pickup and exit from campus after the contest. Buses are permitted to park on our campus during the contest.

Contact Tracing:

• We ask that you keep accurate records of all members of your travel team (i.e. full name and contact information) associated with the game/contest in the event contact tracing becomes necessary.

Weather Delay/Lighting/Thunder:

• We will not have the standard 30-minute delay in the event of thunder or lightning, rather the game will end at that point. We will inform the game officials prior to the start of each game. Director of Athletics Assistant Director
   

  Director of Athletics	Assistant Director	Administrative Assistant	Game Supervisor
  Name: Chris Galano Cell:914-806-3118 Office: 914-630-3125 Email: galanoc@harrisoncsd.org	Name: Danny Gonzalez Cell:914-860-4238 Office: 914-630-3312 Email: gonzalezda@harrisoncsd.org	Name: Robin Webb Cell: Office:914-630-3127 Email: webbr@harrisoncsd.org	Name: Mike Tirellla Cell:602-565-9503 Office: Email: mtirella7@gmail.com

   

NYSDOH Guidance states the following:
“If school is closed for in-person education during the school year due to an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases, school-sponsored sports must be suspended until in-person education is resumed; provided, however, that this restriction does not apply to schools that are conducting only remote instruction"
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