Delaware County’s entry into the yellow phase of Pennsylvania’s reopening means organized sports were allowed to start practices as of yesterday.

Practices, with health safety conditions in place.

No organized games or competitions are allowed until the county enters the green phase of Gov. Wolf’s reopening plan.

With one exception.

Pre-K to 12 school sports can schedule games under the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) and the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PISAA).

“Parents and coaches must remain diligent in assessing personal risk of players to begin practice based upon individual circumstances and seeking guidance from a health care provider,” reads a statement from Chester County Public Health Director Jeanne E. Casner, MPH, PMP. “Individuals at higher risk for COVIOD-19 should not participate in organized sports during the ‘yellow’ phase.”

Coaches are responsible for securing athletic fields and must be aware that athletic fields are not required to open, the statement reads.

The Chester County Health Department is overseeing Delaware County’s procedures for containing the spread of the coronavirus. It issued the following guidelines June 11 for organized sports to begin practices:

•  Limit practices to 25 or less players and coaches.
• Outdoor practice should be prioritized over indoor practice.
• Spectators, parents, volunteers and nonessential staff must remain outside the practice area.
• Conduct temperature and symptom screening of all players and coaches prior to beginning practice.
• Educate coaches and players about which symptoms should be monitored.
• Require players and coaches to wash or sanitize their hands prior to, and after, practice.
• Modify practices so players can work on individual skills, rather than on competition. If working in small groups, be mindful of keeping the players with each other, rather than switching groups or mixing groups.
• No equipment should be shared among players and/or coaches; if sharing equipment cannot be avoided, proper sanitation must be done between uses.
• All equipment must be sanitized after each practice, following current disinfection procedures.
• Coaches must wear face coverings throughout practice sessions.
• Coaches and players must practice social distancing at all times to include no physical contact such as handshakes, fist-bumps, high-fives, etc.
• Spitting or chewing gum by players and coaches is not allowed.
• Require individual water bottles/beverages for all players and coaches.
• Prepackaged or boxed food should be used rather than a buffet or self-serve from a congregate bowl of snacks; reinforce the use of handwashing or sanitization before eating or drinking.
• Ensure the staggered use of restroom and locker-room facilities whenever possible and disinfect facilities between groups of users.
• Recommend players and coaches do not carpool; if carpooling is not avoidable, it should be only limited to members of the same household, or require the use of masks while carpooling.
• Provide signage and reminders about healthy behaviors, proper hand hygiene, how to wear a face covering, etc.
• Follow current procedures for players or coaches who test positive for COVID-19, or are identified as a close contact to an individual with COVID-19.

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