During a Wednesday afternoon athletic meeting, the Bladen County high school athletic directors and Superintendent identified challenges that student-athletes are currently facing with COVID restrictions and protocols.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association outlines protocols for each high school sport. The requirement for indoor sports, including basketball, is that cloth face coverings must be worn by coaches and students at all times during practices and competitions. Unlike cross-country, which allows student-athletes to remove their face covering during the competition part of the race, basketball players must wear a face-covering at all times.
The Bladen high school AD’s and Superintendent discussed that the CDC notes that wearing a mask during strenuous, physical activity can make breathing more difficult. Additionally, sweat can make the mask wet, which impacts breathing and promote the growth of microorganisms. It is also important to note that people will react differently to physical activity while wearing a face-covering.
Based on the current COVID protocols and scientific evidence, the AD’s and Superintendent collectively agreed that the Bladen County high schools should not participate in basketball.
The superintendent will bring before the Board at its December 14 regular meeting, that during the COVID restrictions and protocols of the 2020-2021 school year, the superintendent and athletic directors have the administrative authority to make a determination about athletic participation in high school sports.
Basketball coaches are permitted to conduct light workouts with basketball players to help maintain their physical fitness and playing ability in the event that COVID conditions improve, thereby allowing for non-restrictive competitive play.
Going forward into the spring, COVID restrictions and protocols of each sport will be assessed by coaches and AD’s, to determine the ability of student-athletes to safely participate.
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