LTUSD working on outdoor sports plan for South Tahoe High

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Last week, the State of California came out with new directives in regards to outdoor high-contact sports for students, and since that time local health and school officials have been working on the plan for next steps.

The Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association (NIAA) has announced that all sports are now "a go" in Nevada. South Tahoe High, along with Truckee and North Tahoe High are all schools located in California but compete in the NIAA. Right after the NIAA announcement, Governor Newsom changed the tiers for high school sports, and counties with an adjusted case rate of 14 cases per 100,000 or less can participate in certain sports starting February 26.

Outdoor high-contact sports like football and soccer, which are allowable in the orange tier, can be played in purple or red tier counties under strict conditions. So far, indoor sports like volleyball and basketball are not allowed to resume play in those tiers.

"We are reviewing all aspects of the expectations for our participation," said Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) Superintendent Dr. Todd Cutler. "We are working with our high school athletic department to make sure we are able to meet all expectations and what are other possible limitations with the hope to be able to fully participate."

El Dorado County's health officer Dr. Nancy Williams said it is worth remembering that most people feel the top priority for youth is to get them into and keep them safely in classrooms for in-person learning.

"Every additional instance of close contact that occurs outside the classroom, which includes sports and social activities, adds to the overall risk that in-person learning will be disrupted due to the need for kids to isolate or quarantine," said Dr. Williams.

Just because competitive sports are retuning doesn't mean they are necessarily safe, noted Dr. Williams. She said the decision makers decided tradeoffs were in favor of allowing kids to play.

"I recommend that all parents and guardians who choose to allow their kids to play sports where the kids will have close contact with others commit to trying to do absolutely everything else right with regard to preventing COVID transmission," said Dr. Williams. "In other words, that they treat COVID like the serious disease that it is and make real efforts to avoid getting and transmitting it."

The exact timeline and guidelines for LTUSD are expected in the next couple of days once leadership works with county and NIAA officials on how STHS can return to play safely.

The football field is already being cleared of snow at the high school in anticipation of the green light for a shortened season starting next week, and the STHS soccer coach is asking for interested players to contact him.

High-contact sports will have to implement and strictly adhere to the following additional general guidance:

- Informed Consent
- Testing – antigen or PCR (regular and postseason antigen or PCR testing of sports participants and coaches weekly. If competing, testing performed with test results made available within 24 hours of play)

Note: The testing requirement above shall only apply in the following situations:

- For football, rugby and water polo as these are high contact sports that are likely to be played unmasked, with close, face to face contact exceeding 15 minutes.
- When adjusted case rates for the county are between 14-7 per 100,000.
- For sport participants 13 years of age or above as evidence shows that younger children do not seem to be major sources of transmission—either to each other or to adults.
- *If more than 50 percent of a team's participants are less than the age of 13 (and are not required to test per the above), then the entire team is exempted from the testing requirement. Coaches, however, will still be required to meet the testing requirement.

Additional general guidance that should be implemented to the greatest extent possible and are strongly encouraged

Face Coverings (during play)
Physical Distancing (during play)
Testing – antigen or PCR
Hygiene and Sanitation
Limitations on mixing by participants
Travel Considerations

For a full list of guidelines for all sports, visit https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/outdoor-indoor-recreational-sports.aspx.