No changes for GHSA workout guidelines

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          Members of the GHSA will get at least a week to execute new guidelines that were updated last week, the association sticking with the current standards.

           The GHSA announced an update last Wednesday to its guidelines and stipulations, continuing a pattern of only expanding workout allowances, this round coming despite Georgia setting another record with nearly 3,000 new confirmed cases.

          The GHSA posted on its website that after a meeting with its Sports Medicine Advisory Council, nothing has changed. It reminded schools to continue reporting positive cases to assistant director Don Corr.

          Executive director Robin Hines made his regular appearance on the Georgia Prep Sports: From a Distance podcast, and most reiterated what the GHSA’s priorities and standards are.

          He knew that Macon-Bibb County schools had pushed back the start of school to after Labor Day, aware that more districts were likely to do the same.

          “We certainly understand that,” he said. “They plan to continue on with their extracurricular after-school type programs as they moved move forward.

          “They’ll work it out. They’ll get it going.”

          School being pushed back doesn’t change the ability for teams to hold practice, even with school not in session. Despite that being the cases for years, Hines has caught inquiries about the question, as well as if a school is utilizing virtual teaching over in-person teaching for any period of time.

          “The answer would be yes,” he said. “They are enrolled in the school for which they are participating. Their transcript is kept with the school. They’re working toward a diploma at that school and they meet all other eligibility requirements.”

          There is constant contact with the group’s sports medicine group.

          “It seems to be moving along pretty good,” said Hines, before an afternoon meeting with the sports medicine advisory council. “We’ll look at where we are, and we’ll look at the numbers and see what is next for us. Do we need to stay in place at where we are? Or what it is that we actually need to be doing at this time.”

          There is an analysis of all COVID-19 numbers, with the awareness that more younger people are testing positive.

          “We break down the numbers,” Hines said. “The pediatric cases through July 6 is a .02 death rate. That represents one 17 year old that had an underlying condition, and these sorts of things.

          “We don’t want to get lost in everything that’s going out there. We really want to break down that data.”

          He again praised all of Gov. Brian Kemp’s moves.

          “I’m just really proud of our governor and happy with the way he has handled things and the communication that his office has had with us,” Hines said. “We want to follow his lead. We want to make sure that we’re doing everything that’s inside of his order.”

          And:

          “We’re going to do everything we can do to make this as easy as possible for our membership.”