Voorhees High School
Athletics Department

Winter Sports 2021 – Important Guidelines

Posted: January 6, 2021 | Entry Type: Post

Voorhees Athletics Health and Safety Guidelines:

Seasons 2 & 2A of the 2020-21 School Year

*** Information for Coaches, Parents, and Athletes ***

 

SCREENING:

  • Beginning on January 11, 2021, parents of all Winter athletes (Basketball, Fencing, and Cheerleading) will be required Monday through Saturday, whether you are a hybrid or virtual student, to complete the required Qualtrics pre-screening email to be cleared for practice and games each day of the Winter sports season. Parents only need to complete the pre-screening one time daily. Just like for school, please complete each morning
  • If your son/daughter does not feel well, please keep them home from practice for that day. Please email your head coach and our school nurses ASAP if it is Covid19-related.

FACE COVERINGS: 

  • Student-athletes are required to wear face coverings at all times except when doing so would limit their ability to perform. That means you are free to take off the mask when you are strenuously working out in practice or competing in a game, but you are allowed to wear it during that time if you are comfortable with it.  Some sports may have specific rules regarding the wearing of masks.
  • Student-athletes on the bench or inactive in practice are required to wear face coverings.
  • Coaches are required to wear face coverings at all times.
  • Reminder: Athletes must wear their masks as they leave practice and head to the parking lot to get picked up or drive home.  Everyone should be wearing their masks until they get into a vehicle. 
  • Neck Gaiters: Although neck gaiters were an acceptable alternative for face coverings outdoors, they are not allowed for indoor use. Please be aware of the current CDC and NJDOH guidelines regarding proper face-covering protection

PRACTICE/WORKOUTS:

  • All practice times and locations will be communicated to you from your Head Coach. Practice times during the week will be 1:00pm – 3:00pm and from 3:15 – 5:15. Saturday practices will be either 8:00am – 10:00am or 10:15am – 12:15pm. Don’t hesitate to contact your head coaches if you have any questions about the practice schedule.
  • Students that are physically in the building for school will have access to grab-and-go lunches after school from noon until 12:30 and they are allowed to eat in Cafeteria during this downtime until practice.
  • Busses will again be doing the “return routes” after the 12:00 drop-off following school. They will turn around after dropping their last student off and head back toward the school to pick up any student-athlete on their route who needs to go to practice.
  • Any student-athlete who has to wait at the school for the start of a 3:15 practice needs to report to the cafeteria where they will be supervised.
    • This would apply to a student attending school that day who stays after because they have no way of getting a ride back OR a student-athlete who comes to school on the 12:30 return-bus route because it’s the only way he or she has to get to the school.
  • Late Buses will be provided Monday-Friday at 3:15. Late Bus routes are listed in Aspen under parent and students accounts, click on “Page Directory” on left hand side then “Transp Routes”. The Late Bus routes do not drop off your child at their normal bus stops. Routes are listed by the municipalities they cover and then you will need to know the closest cross streets to your home to identify your 3:15pm route.
  • Athletes with a driver’s license can drive to Voorhees for practices and games.
  • Access to practice/workouts must be limited to student-athletes, coaches, and appropriate school personnel.
  • Only one workout per day is permitted and there must be one (1) day of rest per every seven (7) days.
  • No interstate travel for practice and/or competition is allowed at this time.

SCRIMMAGES & GAMES:

  • No pre-game and post-game handshakes (please discuss with opposing head coach how you want to handle the end of game but just make sure you do something socially distance).
  • If captains are called out for pregame only one captain is allowed to go out.
  • Masks on the bench at all times for everyone. 
  • “Benches” will be chairs that are 6’ apart.
  • Please make sure you stay socially distance from officials at all times.

HYDRATION:

  • All athletes should bring their own water bottle to use during practice. Athletes must not share water.
  • Athletes will have the opportunity to refill their bottles in designated areas.

TRAVELING TO AWAY CONTESTS:

  • Everyone must wear a mask on the bus at all times.
  • We are doing our best to get as many busses as possible to limit the amount of athletes on board.
  • No eating on the bus at any time.
  • As always, please make sure the bus is kept clean.
  • Athletes should be dressed and ready for competition when they get on the bus.
  • Coaches: make sure you have a cooler of water and the med kit for all games.

LOCKER ROOMS:

  • Locker room use is only for students-athletes that are in the building at the end of the school day to change for practice or games and head directly to their gym.
  • All student-athletes participating in full-day or part-time virtual instruction must come dressed and prepared for practice and games. 
  • Locker rooms must be used for changing and storage of equipment only. Coaches will monitor the activity to minimize the amount of time permitted in the locker room.
  • Social distancing and face coverings are required while inside the locker 
  • When arriving to the school, athletes should report to their practice location, not the locker room.
  • LOCKER ROOMS ARE NOT PLACES TO HANG OUT. Most athletes should not need to be going in there at all.

HYGIENE/SANITIZATION:

  • Athletes and coaches should make every effort to wash their hands as often as possible.
  • Hand sanitizer shall be accessible at all times and provided by Voorhees HS.
  • Workout apparel and uniforms shall not be left at the school after games and practices.
  • There shall be no spitting, chewing seeds or gum during the 
  • Post-game handshakes and celebrations are 

RESTROOMS:

  • Social distancing and face coverings are required for all athletes and coaches while using restrooms.

SPECTATORS:

  • As per the Governor spectators are prohibited for practices, scrimmages, and games for the Winter Sports Season.  We are very sorry about this, but…
  • …We will be live streaming as much as possible during the winter sports season.  If livestreaming is unavailable, we will do our best to film the event and do a delayed broadcast.  More information, including the links to tune in, will be coming on this.