Athletics Update 2/26/2021

Update on alternate fall and spring athletics

We know students are eager for in-person athletics to start up again and we share the sense of

urgency around resuming co-curriculars, recognizing the critical role sports play in so many

students' lives. Like in-person instruction, we plan to use a phased approach to restarting in-person

athletics, in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Public

Health Madison Dane County.

Below you can find a phasing-in timeline that is as complete as possible to this point, so that

students, families, and schools can start planning for athletics this school year. As we do so, we

know that conditions around community transmission of COVID-19 can always change, as can

health guidance and, of course, weather and field conditions. So we know we'll need to be flexible

so that we can adapt to these unpredictable factors.

What we can share now is the following:

● We will continue to offer virtual athletics programming to all students. We know this is an

important physical and mental health outlet for students and that the accountability it

provides is an important support. During the WIAA calendar seasons, virtual athletics

programming is expected to provide a minimum of 4-5 hours of activities per week, and 1-2

of those hours should be synchronous virtual training, athlete check-ins, and workouts,

along with providing accountability and resources to support academics, engagement,

grades, and attendance. We know our coaches are finding innovative ways to engage and

connect. General out-of-season options will continue to be provided virtually throughout

the school year.

● We will announce final decisions about in-person activities related to current and

approaching "Alternate Fall Sports Season" by March 26. These decisions will be made on an

individual sport program basis. Sports may take place according to the WIAA calendar dates

or later in the school year, possibly. Virtual programming will continue to follow WIAA

alternate fall allowable dates.

Alternate Fall WIAA start dates:

○ Boys and Girls Cross Country - 3/15

○ Football - 3/8

○ Girls Golf - 3/29

○ Boys Soccer - 3/22

○ Girls Swim - 2/8

○ Girls Tennis - 3/8

○ Boys and Girls Volleyball - 2/22

● The Spring WIAA sports seasons begin April 19, at the earliest. We will announce a timeline

for phasing in these sports by March 12, with a goal of providing the most complete and

genuine experience for our athletes. Using the WIAA allowed contact days, programming

will include training on symptom screening and other mitigation strategies and potentially

some March in-person activities, depending on local health and weather conditions. As our

athletes return to spring sports, we know they will need time to re-adjust physically and

mentally, and we will intentionally make this a gradual, supportive process.

Spring WIAA start dates:

○ Baseball - 4/19

○ Boys Golf - April 19

○ Girls Soccer - 4/26

○ Softball - 4/19

○ Boys Tennis - 5/3

○ Boys and Girls Track & Field - 4/19

Again, we share in students' eagerness to get back in the game and will continue to do what we can

to offer students opportunities to connect and participate in athletics.