After the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association’s Board of Directors rejected a three-phased plan that addressed COVID-19, Okmulgee County schools released their own versions and have started up a portion of their summer activities. Days after rejecting the plan, OSSAA presented schools with suggested guidelines regarding protecting players and coaches from COVID-19. Henryetta, Morris, Beggs and Preston will be implementing guidelines and plans in order to have summer activities, while Okmulgee School Board voted to table proposed guidelines until the Monday, June 8 meeting at 6 p.m. Dewar’s Board of Education is set to vote on its version of the guidelines today.

“After receiving and considering suggested guidelines from the OSSAA, Henryetta Public Schools has determined it is safe, as of June 2, 2020, to return to activities with restrictions,” Henryetta Public Schools stated in a press release Friday. “In order to ensure safety for all, the following must be in place at all activity facilities. All staff are expected to comply with each item outlined in this Phase-In plan. The COVID-19 plan is fluid and adjustments may need to be made.”

Morris, Preston, Beggs and Henryetta have all resumed summer activities with restrictions in place to protect athletes. Each school will utilize a COVID-19 screening form released from the OSSAA that determines if an athlete, coach or participant is safe to enter the facility. The screening form assess if the person has symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as a coughing or being in contact with someone that has tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Henryetta, at-risk individuals should not participate in any workouts during any phase.

Each school has adapted the guidelines and created their own timeline for each phase. Henryetta and Morris both started summer activities on June 2, but will have different start dates for phase two. Henryetta will begin phase two guidelines on June 15, while Morris and Preston will follow the original OSSAA timeline and enter phase two on June 26.

Henryetta is set to reveal phase two of the plan on or before June 12 and will observe those guidelines. According to Henryetta Public Schools, certain restrictions have the possibility of being adjusted or lifted during this phase.

The OSSAA suggested guidelines promoted social distancing measures and appropriately disinfecting equipment in a timely manner. Separating guidelines by indoor and outdoor activities, Henryetta, Beggs, Preston and Morris will check participants temperatures before entering facilities, athletes will be prohibited from sharing water bottles and towels, and coaches or other supervisory adults must wear masks.

All four schools also provided specific guidelines regarding indoor and outdoor facilities. To promote social distancing in weight rooms, coaches will limit two people to one piece of equipment, spotters must wear masks and, in Henryetta, equipment must be cleaned between each player.

Gym guidelines will follow similar social distancing rules, including maintaining a six-foot radius between each person and equipment must be disinfected every 30 minutes. Also, according to the OSSAA guidelines, no one-on-one or scrimmaging will be allowed. Outdoor facilities follow the same guidelines as those for the weight room and gym. Participants must have their temperatures checked before entering, hands must be washed or sanitized, and social distancing protocols must be followed.

In a press release Tuesday, Beggs stated it will implement the following protocols for its summer activities:

• Locker rooms must be sanitized before and after use each day.

• Kids must sanitize hands during every rest period.

• Masks will be available for students.

• Max number of kids in weight room is 16.

• Equipment will be sanitized before and after use/between groups.

•Water will not be provided. Athletes must bring their own.

According to its guidelines, Morris Public Schools will have five to six dif ferent sessions for its athletes to attend throughout the day. Sessions will start at 6 a.m., will last for an hour and a half, and will be limited to 24 athletes. Coaches will split the athletes between outdoor running and the weight room.

Morris will also be checking athletes’ temperatures before entering the ‘workout zone’ and will have designated standing areas for athletes to wait and follow social distancing measures. According to Walker, if there is not a place to stand, athletes are encouraged to stay in their cars.

All schools are also prohibiting the sharing of water bottles, towels and other personal equipment.