Ponder ISD Athletes Return to Campus Plan for Strength & Conditioning and Sport-specific Training

Ponder Athletics will begin strength & conditioning and port-specific skills training on June 8 as allowed by the UIL. We will follow the guidelines of the State of Texas, Denton County, and the UIL. Student-athletes are not required to attend. With social distancing requirements, it will take many more HOURS and AREAS to provide our student-athletes with a quality experience. We will expect both staff and student-athletes to conduct themselves as if they are contagious while on the school property in order to minimize risk for all participants. All guidelines are to protect all participants and should be followed closely.

Strength & Conditioning

The UIL Guidelines may be found at https://www.uiltexas.org/athletics/covid-19-strength-conditioning-2020. In order to help to create a safe environment and follow these requirements, Ponder Athletics will do the following:

Create a daily screening process before athletes or staff may participate

• Maintain at least a 15:1 coach:student-athlete ratio at all times
• Provide a hand washing area, as well as hand sanitizing areas and will encourage regular use of both
• Clean and sanitize all areas between use of different groups and at the end of each day
• Maintain 6-foot social distancing while not actively exercising and 10-foot social distancing when actively exercising
• No high-fives, back slaps, hugs, or any other physical encouragement will be allowed
• For the first 3 weeks, all strength and conditioning workouts will take place outside. The student-athletes have been out of school and conditioning for 3 months, and we will gradually ease them into a conditioning program as a group.
• The school will NOT provide any water. Student-athletes will need to bring their own water containers. At least 32 oz. is recommended, and they should be labeled or easily identifiable. Neither water nor food may be shared in any way.
• Student-athletes will be allowed to use a restroom using the “one in, one out” model, and they will be required to wash their hands and sanitize before returning to the workout area. Students will NOT be admitted to any locker room or shower area for any reason, and if they want a towel for any reason, they should bring their own.
• Student-athletes should arrive at their specific screening area at least 15 minutes before the start of workout each day to allow for screening and instructions, and they should maintain a 6-foot social distance from all other student-athletes and staff from the moment they exit their vehicle.
• If a student-athlete or staff member has a fever or any symptoms of COVID-19, or if they are not feeling well, they should stay at home
• If a student-athlete does not have a phone to fill out the check-in on Google Forms, they may use their Chromebook. Hotspots are in the HS parking lot.
• A student may also bring a cold towel or Frog Togg towel, but it may not be shared and must leave with them or it will be disposed of.
• Parents should remain in the car to help us maintain the social distancing, and student-athletes should remain in the car as well until no more than 30 minutes before the scheduled workout time. No one should get out of the vehicle until the group coaches are in place.

Sports-specific Skills Training

• If a student shows only for the individual sports-specific training, they will still have to complete the Google Form link daily BEFORE exiting their vehicle. If they have already completed it for Strength & Conditioning, they will not need to complete it again.
• All equipment and balls, as well as the indoor areas for indoor sports will be sanitized daily.
• Indoors, we will maintain a 10:1 coach:player ratio as recommended by the UIL.
• Indoors, we will still enforce 6-foot distancing when not actively exercising or working and 10-foot distancing when working. Coaches know the maximum # of student-athletes who may be in a facility at one time in addition to the coaches, and they will maintain those as maximum numbers.
• Hand washing areas and hand sanitizing will be provided.
• Parents may not enter the buildings, and should remain in their cars.
• The school will NOT provide any water. Student-athletes must bring their own water, again at least 32 oz.
• No physical encouragement or greetings (high fives, fist bumps, etc.) will be allowed.
• Student-athletes will be allowed to use a restroom using the “one in, one out” model, and they will be required to wash their hands and sanitize before returning to the workout area. Students will NOT be admitted to any locker room or shower area for any reason, and if they want a towel for any reason, they should bring their own.

 

 

The information on this section of the Ponder ISD website is maintained by the coaches. For questions or comments, please contact Coach Hendrix (boys) at lhendrix@ponderisd.net , Coach Avery (girls) at eavery@ponderisd.net