July/August 2020 - 31

chose the wait-and-see approach.
" The NCHSAA [North Carolina High School Athletic
Association] gave each local education agency the
opportunity to weigh in and choose that date or wait
until a later date to reopen, " Chad Duncan, Gastonia's
assistant athletic director said.
The reason to hold back on reopening was fairly simple
in the eyes of Duncan. They needed more personal
protective equipment and supplies in order to properly
keep their students and faculty safe. At the time of
speaking with Coach & Athletic Director in mid-June,
Duncan was awaiting the shipment of extra supplies
like non-contact infrared thermometers, hand sanitizer,
masks and gloves, and disinfectant wipes among others.
" That was probably the main reason we held off, "
Duncan said.
Though the NCHSAA put forth the June 15 deadline,
the other reason Gastonia held off was due to education.
Duncan wanted to not only absorb the guidelines the
NCHSAA put forth, but also create educational videos
and instructions to release district-wide so that coaches,
student-athletes, and parents could be informed and
protected.
Duncan added that the NCHSAA has also provided
a waiver for in-state schools to utilize - covering the
basics while each separate school can add literature
as needed. He noted that the county has been working
with the nearby Caromont Hospital to add to the given
state protocols. While the county just north of Gastonia,
Lincoln County, began on June 15, but Gastonia decided
to wait until July 6.
When Gastonia does resume athletics among its 10
area high schools, the protocols and limitations will
vary facility to facility and school to school. Not having a
one-size-fits-all solution was another reason why Duncan
waited to reopen. Outside venues are limited to 25
people, including student-athletes, coaches, and trainers.
Inside activities can have no more than 10 people, with
guidance given of being in specific pods of five or so, and
workout in those same groups every time.
Before the resumption of athletics, the Gastonia County
coaches, like so many around the country, stayed in
contact with their student-athletes virtually and provided
at-home workout advice. Duncan added that he's been in
regular contact with his fellow in-state athletic directors to
share ideas and advice in an unprecedented time.
" I'm very thankful to have a network of other ADs in
the state and share what's available, " Duncan said. " Our
coaches have stayed in communication as much as they
can with their student-athletes. Our student-athletes and
parents also understand these guidelines. Hopefully, if
we work together to get through this we will have a fall
season. "
Iowa
While nearly every state outright canceled the spring
sports season in the wake of COVID-19, the Hawkeye
State opted for a postponement of such high school
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COACHAD.COM 31
sports like baseball and softball. So when Iowa governor
Kim Reynolds lifted the temporary ban on the Iowa High
School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and the Iowa High
School Girls Athletic Union (IHSGAC), its spring high
school season was set to take place.
As Iowa was not hit with the first wave of infections
like many states in the northeast, the state was in a
better position to reopen. And that was much to the
delight of coaches and players alike. On June 1, when the
temporary ban was lifted by Governor Reynolds, one high
school softball team " gathered in a socially distant circle
and counted down the seconds to 12:01 AM and threw
their gloves in the air in celebration of the first known
high school practice in nearly three months, " accord to
an article on ESPN.
The high school state championships in baseball were
set for August 1, just nine days before the scheduled start
of football practice in Iowa. But as the IHSAA soon found
out, being first isn't always what matters most. According
to an article from The Gazette on June 22, five Iowa high
school baseball teams have suspended its seasons due to
an influx of positive COVID-19 cases within the program
just three weeks after the start of the new season.
Aplington-Parkersburg, Iowa Falls-Alden, Le Mars
Gehlen, Woodbine, and Dubuque Wahlert all reported
positive test results, according to the IHSAA, and have
shut down its season for two weeks for the recommended
14-day quarantine.
Despite the shut down of those teams, IHSAA
executive director Tom Keating told The Gazette he feels
things have gone well overall so far. With many states
and sports organizations keeping a mindful eye on the
progress of Iowa baseball and softball, the IHSAA knows
they want to set the right precedence for other schools in
resuming athletics safely.
" With the number of programs playing, the number of
games that have been played, the number of practices
we've had, I think we're pleased that things are where
they are, " Keating told The Gazette. " We feel bad for the
programs that have been impacted, but I'm not sure we
can tie those directly back to their team interaction. "
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July/August 2020

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