Greetings from the MPA, hopefully this memo finds each of you, and your family, healthy and safe! Below please find a summary of items that were recently approved or discussed by the MPA Interscholastic Management Committee at their May 7, 2020 meeting.
The following items were presented to the IMC by the MPA Sports Medicine Committee:
- That the following timeline be established for summer activities:
- That through June 13, 2020, which is the close of the 2020 spring season, we continue to encourage all coaches to communicate with athletes in their program regarding their health and well-being, encouraging them to remain active, and to maintain a healthy life-style. The only coaches that may provide sport-specific workouts during this time would continue to be the spring coaches.
- Starting on June 14, 2020, and continuing through July 5, 2020, coaches would continue to connect virtually with athletes but that all coaches would now be allowed to suggest sport-specific workouts. It is strongly recommended that the workouts be coordinated within the school to avoid overuse by the multi-sport athlete.
- That starting on July 6, 2020 we could hopefully allow some in-person instruction to occur. Prior to July 6 a set of guidelines, aligning with recommendations from the Governor’s Office, the Maine CDC, and the Maine Department of Education, will be developed for what this in-person instruction might involve. It is important to note that these guidelines will align with other educational recommendations that are being made and will not replace any district level rules or policies that have been previously implemented. It is also not the intent of establishing a July 6 date to reopen all activities but rather allow for a period of time prior to elapse before making recommendations around social gatherings, physical distancing requirements, the wearing of facemasks, and other guidelines being suggested by our state leadership.
- For the start of the fall season the 2-week mandatory “hands-off” period is waived. If schools are able to start the fall season on August 17, 2020 there was a concern that with the stay-at-home order currently in place, and the possibility that it may extend further into the summer, that the athletes would need additional time to begin a conditioning program to avoid overuse injuries once the fall season begins.