It’s game on in Ohio. The Ohio Department of Health issued an order that allowed competition to resume for all sports. This includes contact and non-contact sports. But don’t expect Trojan athletes to take the field. COVID-19 has sidelined all events and practices.
New Guidelines
There are some pretty strict rules to restart play. Lt. Governor Jon Husted said, “You gotta listen carefully to this to make sure you understand restrictions. Tournaments, games, and scrimmages for teams are permissible only as long as teams agree to the list of guidelines.”
Let’s check out the new rules of the game.
- Here’s what teams have to agree to if they want to start playing:
- Testing of all players, coaches, athletic trainers, support staff, and officials before travel and competition.
- Daily symptom assessments.
- Athletic trainers must wear a face covering while attending to a player
- Coaches and officials are strongly recommended to wear a face covering, when possible.
- Strict social distancing by players who are not actively engaged in practice or competition.
- Immediate isolation and medical care for a participant who develops symptoms.
I Want A Season
Lt. Governor Jon Husted said the order resuming play is temporary. “It will end on July 15. “We hope to use this to inform our future decision as it relates to return to play. It will be evaluated once we have more information.”
Husted also announced a new campaign called “I Want A Season.” It aims to encourage athletes and young people, in general, to wear masks and practice social distancing.
The Lt. Governor said, “We all love sports. I love sports. It teaches players teamwork, discipline, competitiveness, resilience, and grit.”
Portsmouth Athletics On Hold
While some teams will be taking the field, Portsmouth City Schools athletes will not. Portsmouth Athletic Director Joe Albrecht told SCDN that all athletic programs are temporarily on hold. That’s because someone associated with Trojans Athletics tested positive for COVID-19.
Neither Albrecht nor anyone from Portsmouth City Schools had any further comment or details on who tested positive.
