Vernon High athletes begin summer workouts
Vernon High School athletes are back on campus for the first time in three months. Activities were suspended in March statewide due to Covid-19 concerns.
Vernon students began summer conditioning activities this week — the boys started on Monday evening at the high school and the girls started Tuesday morning at the middle school.
The University Interscholastic League allowed student-athletes across Texas to get back to limited action beginning June 8.
The UIL is allowing an additional 90 minutes per day, Monday through Friday of sport-specific skill instruction — with no more than 60 minutes per day in a given sport.
All workout equipment has to be sanitized after each session. To ease how that is accomplished, VISD Athletic Director Matt Hoover said the district has opted to have the girls train on the equipment at the Middle School and the boys will train at the Hi
Vernon High School athletes social distance at Vernon Lions stadium as they begin summer workouts under strict state guidelines.
Daniel Walker/Vernon Record
gh School.
Some other highlights of the UIL guidelines include:
— Attendance at workouts must be optional for students and in compliance with the rules for Summer Strength & Conditioning and Sport Specific Skill Instruction.
— During workouts, schools must have at least one staff member per 10 students in attendance to ensure appropriate social distancing, hygiene, and safety measures are applied. The UIL also suggests schools lead students in workout groups no larger than 15 people outdoors and 10 people indoors to ensure limited exposure if someone becomes infected.
— Schools must have hand sanitizer or hand-washing stations readily available in the workout area. Students and staff should be encouraged to use it frequently.
— All surfaces in workout areas must be thoroughly disinfected throughout and at the end of each day.
— No clothing or towels may be laundered on site or shared during workouts.
— There can be no shared water or food.
— At the start of every week of summer workouts, schools should consider pre-screening all students for COVID symptoms that they or others living in their house may experience. Students and staff must self-screen every day for COVID-19 symptoms.