on a final note, i cannot emphasize enough how seriously

August 7, 2020

Dear Heritage High School Family,

To say the end of the 2019-20 school year was crazy would be an understatement. With the

commencement ceremony on Thursday, August 6, we put the school year to an end. I am really looking

forward to the coming school year. While there are still many questions, concerns, and unknowns that

remain, what I do know is this: if we can (and we will) make it through this pandemic, we can (and we

will) make it through anything.

I am writing to share information on fall sports including – details of first practices, coaching contact

information, and our COVID-19 protocols and procedures for our athletic department and for each

specific sport. I understand that fall athletics will not be risk-free, but by following the protocols in place,

we all can help mitigate those risks. I do ask that you consider your interactions outside of sports during

this season in order to limit the potential for exposure in other portions of your daily routine.

At this moment, we do not know if we will be allowed to have spectators – and if so, how many – or if we

will be able to provide transportation for sporting events. Answers to those questions should be available

and addressed at our Fall Sports Parents Meeting on Thursday, August 20 at 7:00 PM. This meeting

will take place virtually, and the link to the meeting will be sent out that week. All parents are strongly

encouraged to attend.

Please note that any student-athlete with a valid physical on file in the 2019-2020 school year (including

incoming freshmen) are not required to get another physical for this school year as long as you fill out and

turn in the MHSAA Health Questionnaire. Please check with your coach or our office to confirm that

your physical is on file.

On a final note, I cannot emphasize enough how seriously we take your child’s health and safety; it is our

number one priority. We will continue to follow the guidance provided by the State of Michigan and the

Michigan High School Athletic Association. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or

concerns.

Updates will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, and at www.heritagehawksathletics.com.

Go Hawks!

Justin Thorington, Saginaw Township Community Schools Athletic Director

Jim Noble, Heritage High School Athletic Director

Michelle Galer, Athletics Secretary

https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/sportshub2-uploads-prod/files/sites/2323/2020/07/23115608/healthquestionnaire-1.pdf

http://www.facebooks.com/HawksHeritage

http://www.twitter.com/hawks_heritage

www.heritagehawksathletics.com

First Practices: Please note that a yearly physical is not required to practice if we have

a valid 2019-20 physical and MHSAA Health Questionnaire on file. The Heritage High

School Athletes Handbook and Training Rules will be sent electronically. Signed training

rules will be due to the Athletic Department by Thursday, August 20.

Cheer: Coach Krista Koopman – (989) 907-9773. The start of the cheer season has been

postponed until August 24th at the earliest due to the uncertainty about limitations on the number

spectators and event participants. It is anticipated that an clarification and further guidance will be

provided on or by August 20.

Cross Country: Coach Gary Loubert – (989) 798-3722. First practice will be on Wednesday, August 12 at

6:30 PM. Please meet at the benches outside of the HHS Cafeteria.

Football: Coach Justin Thelen (517) 614-2466. Freshmen, JV, and Varsity practice will start on Monday,

August 10 from 3:30 – 8:00 PM at the practice fields on the South End of the Stadium.

Golf (Girls): Coach Ivory (989) 413-3083. Tryouts for JV and Varsity will start on Wednesday, August

12 at 8:00 AM at Sawmill Course – 19 Sawmill Blvd. Players will have access to the driving range at

7:30 AM.

Soccer (Boys): Coach Ross Gibson (989) 980-9662. JV and Varsity tryouts will be held on Wednesday,

August 12 from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM at Field 2 of the Saginaw Township Soccer Complex - 3575

McCarty Rd.

Swimming (Girls): Tyler Miller (989) 964-9910. Practice will be held at the Saginaw Country Club –

4465 Gratiot Rd. – on Wednesday August 12 from 7:00 – 9:00 AM. Please note that we are not able to

be indoors at this point. We will communicate a change in plans if we are allowed indoors after

sending this out.

Tennis (Boys): Tyler Courville (810) 962-9965. Tryouts for JV and Varsity will start on Wednesday,

August 12 from 10: AM – 12:00 PM.

Volleyball: Coach Britney Myers (989) 620-4684. First practice for Freshmen, JV, and Volleyball will be

on Wednesday, August 12 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at the HHS track. Practice on Thursday, August 13,

and Friday, August 14 will be from 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Location of practice may change. Please note that

we are not able to be indoors at this point. We will communicate a change in plans if we are allowed

in the gym after sending this out.

For a full list of coaches, please click here.

https://heritagehawksathletics.com/coaching-staff/

COVID-19 Protocols and Procedures – Athletic Department

Over time this document will change – please check

http://www.heritagehawksathletics.com frequently for updates. Fall athletics will not be

risk-free, but by following the guidance in this document we all can help mitigate those

risks. We also ask that you consider your interactions outside of sports during this season

in order to limit the potential for exposure in other portions of your daily routine.

Protocols for Positive Cases

1. We will contact health department and follow guidance.

2. Close contacts MAY have to quarantine for 14 days – We follow health department guidance.

“Close contact” is defined as anyone who was less than six feet apart for more than 15 minutes, at any point from two days before symptoms until the time the individual is isolated.

3. Notify all schools, families and officials involved without identifying the person involved.

4. Student, coaches, officials and others at the event but NOT in close contact should be closely monitored for symptoms and may not need testing. Follow health department guidance.

5. Clean the area.

Face Coverings: Athletes while participating on the field/court are not required to wear face coverings

but are permitted to do so. Bench personnel are required to wear face coverings at all times – this includes

athletes not currently in the game, coaches, managers, trainers, statisticians, media and anyone else on the

sideline. It is recommended that game officials wear face coverings, but it is not required when carrying

out their duties. Contest management, school administrators, media and all staff are required to wear face

coverings. Spectators are also required to wear face coverings.

Regular Season Tournaments, Invitationals, and Multi-Team Competitions: The following

limitations are in place for regular season fall tournaments and invitationals, both home and away.

Regular season dual/head-to-head matchups, between multiple levels of two different schools, are not

affected.

Cross Country – maximum of 70 runners are allowed in a race

Golf – maximum of 72 competitors at an 18-hole site

Football – two teams at a site

Soccer – four teams at a site

Swimming & Diving – four teams at a site

Tennis – four teams at a site

Volleyball – four teams at a site

When determining the number of teams present at a tournament, we count the school’s varsity team as

one team, and its JV team as a second team. The goal is to achieve physical distancing at all possible

times; teams not in competition should be provided adequate space, and spectator limitations must be

followed. Consider staggered contest and team arrival times to maintain physical distancing.

Scrimmages: There are no scrimmages allowed for any sports this fall.

http://www.heritagehawksathletics.com/

Spectation Limitations: Spectators will be limited. The number of spectators and

individuals allowed for indoor and outdoor events will be based on future guidance from

the governor’s office, and will be posted prior to the first dates of competition.

Entrance/Exit Strategies: If spectators are allowed, we will consider strategies to prevent

groups from gathering at entrances/exits to facilities to limit crossover and contact,

including staggering starting/ending times.

Pre-Workout and Pre-Game Screening: All coaches and students will be screened daily for signs and

symptoms of COVID-19 prior to participating, including with a temperature check. This check may take

place onsite or be completed and verified prior to arrival onsite (at home, for example). Anyone with a

temperature of greater than 100.3 degrees should not participate and should be sent home. Responses to

screening questions for each person should will be recorded and stored so that there is a record of

everyone present in case a student develops COVID-19. These records will be kept confidential. Any

person displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should not be allowed to participate, should self-isolate, and

contact his or her primary care provider or other health-care professional. We remind and insist that

coaches and students disclose symptoms so all schools can compete safely. We will involve the

Saginaw County Health Department (or appropriate local health departments if the county of residence is

not Saginaw County) if positive cases of COVID are discovered.

Tickets: We are exploring our options for digital tickets. If we cannot offer digital tickets, we will

develop a distribution plan for the limited amount of tickets available per game (if spectators are

allowed).

Transportation: A decision on transportation will be made by August 20th. Cleaning and ability to

physical distance should be part of the decision. Availability of busses will also be part of the decision.

There is a strong possibility that parents will be required to transport their student-athletes to away games.

Locker Rooms: Home teams are not required to offer locker room access therefore we will not offer

locker rooms to visiting teams. Likewise, when our teams travel, we should arrive dressed and ready to

play. Locker rooms will not be available during practice until we are physically in the building for the

school year. Locker room restrooms should be available, and a cleaning schedule will be created.

Facility Cleaning: Adequate cleaning schedules have been created and implemented for all athletic

facilities. Prior to an individual or groups of individuals entering a facility, hard surfaces within that

facility will be wiped down and sanitized (bleachers, chairs, furniture in meeting rooms, locker rooms,

weight room equipment, bathrooms, athletic training room tables, etc.). Individuals should wash their

hands for a minimum of 20 seconds before participating in workouts. Hand sanitizer will be plentiful and

available to individuals as they transfer from place to place.

Concessions: Concessions will not be offered this fall.

COVID 19 Protocols & Procedures – Cross Country

The MHSAA/NFHS Guidance for Re-Opening School Sports lists Cross Country as

a low risk sport. Low risk sports can be done with physical distancing or individually with no sharing of

equipment or the ability to clean the equipment between use by competitors.

Competition and Spectator Limitations

2020 Fall regular season tournament competition limit – no more than 70 runners in a race.

No scrimmages allowed.

Spectators will be limited. The number of spectators and individuals allowed for indoor and

outdoor events will be based on future guidance from the governor’s office, and will be posted

prior to the first dates of competition.

Practice

Runners should maintain the recommended six feet of distancing between individuals and should

not be in contact with each other, no sharing of equipment.

Recommended that all activities occur outdoors.

Avoid grouping of athletes at start and end of practice or during transitions.

Staggered start times for meetings are recommended.

Educate athletes about physical distancing, handwashing, and other immune system protocols.

Masks not required while running, but recommended before and after practice for everyone

(coaches and athletes).

All coaches and other school personnel should be masked, and gloved when appropriate with

PPE.

Competition

Scheduling of host sites and courses needs to be done ahead of time to ensure the venue can both

handle a race and is willing to be the host site. This includes private facilities like parks that may

have restrictions on races or congregations of people like cross country races. No spectators may

need to be strongly considered.

Avoid grouping of athletes at start and end of competitions or during transitions. (Team and

athletes) will have to be a smaller controlled number.

Course design should be considered and adjusted as necessary to include non-repeating courses

and at least 6 ft. wide at its narrowest points. In addition, “passing lanes” could be considered as a

way to have competitors physically distance during a race.

If spectators are allowed at the course, there must be a restricted area at the finish that keeps

spectators away so they do not interfere with the "quick exit" of each athlete.

All event workers should be masked, and gloved when appropriate with PPE.

Host schools can add course monitors and marshals to the course in multiple key spots to monitor

social distancing and remind runners to run their line for proper distancing.

Educate athletes about physical distancing, handwashing, and other

immune system protocols. This would include the use of hand sanitizer

before and after competition.

Masks not required while running or racing, but recommended before

and after practice/meets (when not racing) for everyone (coaches and

athletes).

No pre or post-race handshakes or fist bumps should take place.

COVID 19 Protocols & Procedures – Football

The MHSAA/NFHS Guidance for Re-Opening School Sports lists Football as a

higher risk sport.

Higher risk sports involve close, sustained contact between participants, lack of

significant protective barriers, and high probability that respiratory particles will be

transmitted between participants.






Season Calendar

Starting with an acclimatization week on Aug. 10, only helmets can be worn at practice.

Full pads and equipment can be worn starting Aug. 17.

An announcement for the start of competition will be made by Aug. 20.

If the start of the competition date is delayed, the season will start with your next contracted

game. For example, if the season starts with Week 2 games, Week 1 games will be skipped and

considered a no play.

Practice

Balls may be passed/shared, provided students wash their hands before and after practice.

Appropriate physical distancing will need to be maintained on sidelines and benches during

practices. Consider using tape or paint as a guide for students and coaches.

Individual drills requiring the use of weight equipment are permissible, but the equipment should

be cleaned prior to use by the next individual.

Individual drills requiring the use of athletic equipment are permissible, but the equipment should

be cleaned prior to use by the next individual.

Balls may be passed/shared, provided students wash their hands before and after the practice.

Sanitize uniforms and pads often.

Reinforce Blood Born Pathogen protocols.

Competition

When not directly participating in practices or contests, care should be taken to maintain a

minimum distance of 6 feet between each individual.

No pre-game and post-game handshakes/high-fives/fist bumps.

All field equipment should be cleaned and sanitized after set up and before contest.

Face coverings be worn during the captains meeting.

Each team is responsible for its own hand sanitizer and its own med kit.

Sanitized back up balls should be available

Sanitize uniforms and pads often.

Reinforce Blood Born Pathogen protocols.

COVID 19 Protocols & Procedures – Girls Golf

The MHSAA/NFHS Guidance for Re-Opening School Sports lists Golf as a low risk

sport. Low risk sports can be done with physical distancing or individually with no

sharing of equipment or the ability to clean the equipment between use by competitors.


2020 Fall regular season tournament competition limit – no more than 72 competitors at a site.





Practice

Team Meetings prior to Practice- Observe social distancing/ wearing of face masks

recommended.

Handouts/Rule Books- use of online materials, emails and other electronic communication is

recommended

Hydration/Food, Snacks- All players must provide their own water bottles or drinks and snacks.

There is to be no sharing of food or drink. Also, public drinking facilities should not be used.

Coaches should not provide food or drink to players.

When engaging in multiple drills or stations, ensure that players are properly spaced out and there

is no congregating of players while waiting to hit or perform drills.

There must be a minimum distance of 6 feet between each individual at all times.

There should be no shared athletic equipment (towels, clothing, shoes, rangefinders or specific

equipment) between students.

Do not touch flagsticks, rakes in the bunker or ball cleaning devices during practices unless they

are sanitized after contact.

Players should only touch and use their own golf ball and not touch other players golf balls or

equipment.

Players licking fingers – If a golfer touches their mouth, practice is stopped and the player must

sanitize their hands.

Students should wear their own appropriate clothing (do not share clothing.)

Individual drills requiring the use of athletic equipment are permissible, but the equipment should

be cleaned prior to use by the next individual. Cleaning/ sanitizing supplies should be readily

available on site.

Player habits – Coaches should work to continue to reinforce safe and healthy habits. This

includes staying away from touching their face, social distancing of 6 feet between individuals,

and constant hand washing.

Masks – Players are not required to wear cloth face coverings, but may do

so if they desire. Coaches and others are required to wear masks,

especially when not able to maintain social distancing. If an individual

would like to wear a mask on the playing course or in a meeting, they may

do so. There is no prohibition on the color of the mask. Spectators,

workers, and others are required to wear masks and they are expected to

follow social distancing guidelines.

Hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes – Players, coaches, and officials are

encouraged to provide their own hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) and/or

sanitizing wipes.

Competition

Field size should not exceed 72 competitors at a course. Player groupings of no more than

threesomes are recommended.

Team issued uniforms, umbrellas, golf bags, competition golf balls, towels, etc. must be sanitized

before handing out and if possible, players would be advised to use their own equipment or keep

it for the duration of the season.

Provide clear instruction to teams in advance of contests about entrance and exit points of the

facility.

Provide clear instruction regarding suggested arrival time and protocols for clubhouse, restrooms

and practice facilities. When using the restroom, maintain social distancing while waiting and

avoid congregating in the rest room.

Arrivals of participants are not be prior to 30 minutes before tee time (limit practice time).


All players are encouraged to have their own hand sanitizer in addition to what coach has

available.

Masks – Players are not required to wear cloth face coverings, but may do so if they desire.

Coaches and others are required to wear masks, especially when not able to maintain physical

distancing. If an individual would like to wear a mask on the playing course or in a meeting, they

may do so. There is no prohibition on the color of the mask. Spectators, workers, and others are

required to wear masks and they are expected to follow social distancing guidelines.

Consideration should be given to limiting or restricting access to driving ranges and putting

greens.

Warm-up facilities-Coaches are responsible for ensuring physical distancing is maintained. Host

school should set up practice facilities to ensure physical distancing.

Range Balls should be sanitized if possible prior to being put on range.

Coaches carts should be sanitized prior to use and there use may be restricted.

No gathering points for registration.

Coaches meeting- It is encouraged that coaches wear a mask and social distancing is set up.

Coaches coffee and donuts during coaches meeting should not be shared and may have to be

eliminated.

Handouts/Tournament information/ Local rules given to coaches via

electronic communication or verbally at the coaches meeting. Team

packets may have to be eliminated or reduced.

Players meetings should be changed and/or cancelled instead relying

upon each coach to share tournament information to their players in a

physically distanced manner while everyone wears a mask.

If players meetings do become necessary, face coverings must be worn

during any players meeting.

No pre-match and post-game handshakes/high-fives/fist bumps.

Consideration should be given to reducing the amount of shuttling between and to

holes.

Consideration should be given to not exchanging scorecards but instead using

electronic scoring via cell phone if available. This includes programs like iWanamaker,

BirdieFire and Golf Genius to score events. A process for verifying, collecting player

and team scores should be determined prior to competition by administration and/or

coaches.

Consideration should be given to alternative end of round procedures to ensure golfers do not

congregate.

Golf equipment – Players should use their own equipment and golf balls. Players should not

touch other players’ equipment or golf balls.

Course equipment – Players should not touch the flagstick, bunker rakes or ball cleaning devices

on the course.

All players shall bring their own water bottle or drinks. Water bottles must not be shared.

Public water facilities should NOT be utilized. Bottled water or individual water bottles should be

used.

Use of team coolers is not recommended.

On Course Play

Only essential personnel are permitted on the course. These are defined as players, coaches,

athletic trainers, and officials. All others, i.e., managers, video people, media, photographers, etc.

are considered non‐ essential personnel and are to be in the gallery remaining by the cart path

(when present) or remaining at least 25 yards from the players.

Shotgun starts are allowed with strict social distancing and staging that eliminates the potential

for large gatherings. Alternative tee time starts are still recommended. Gatherings no larger than

72 players may be held, though it is recommended to keep these gatherings to a minimum. (ex.

scoreboard area, clubhouse, registration, etc.).

Award ceremonies may have to be modified or eliminated. No gathering points for awards

ceremony. Functions may be held following physical distancing protocol and local guidelines.

COVID 19 Protocols & Procedures – Boys Soccer

The MHSAA/NFHS Guidance For Re-Opening School Sports lists Soccer as a

moderate risk sport. Moderate risk sports involve close, sustained contact, but with

protective equipment in place that may reduce the likelihood of respiratory particle

transmission between participants OR intermittent close contact OR group sports OR

sports that use equipment that can’t be cleaned between participants.


2020 Fall regular season tournament competition limit – no more than 4 teams at a site.





Practice


Competition


All equipment should be cleaned and sanitized after set up and before contest.

Athletes should not share pennies.

Face coverings be worn during the captains meeting.

Only athletes will touch the balls.

Sanitized back up ball(s) should be available and should be rotated in regularly (someone needs

to be designated to sanitize the ball.) Keep sanitized and non-sanitized balls separated.

Players should use hand sanitizer before entering and when exiting the game during substitutions;

no hand touching allowed during substitutions.

Create additional space if possible, between officials and sideline benches. If benches are used for

subs, maintain physical distancing.

Limit sidelines to essential people.

World Cup Walk out not allowed.

Limit captain meeting to 1 athlete per school and officials, maintaining physical distance.

COVID 19 Protocols & Procedures – Girls Swimming

The MHSAA/NFHS Guidance for Re-Opening School Sports lists Swimming &

Diving as a low risk sport.

Low risk sports involve can be done with physical distancing or individually with no



Indoor practice and competition can begin once indoor pools are opened. Capacity limitations

must be followed.






Practice

Swimmers should maintain the recommended six feet of distancing between individuals and

should not be in contact with each other, no sharing of equipment.

Avoid grouping of athletes at start and end of practice or during transitions.

Staggered start times for meetings are recommended.


Masks cannot be worn while swimming, but recommended before and after practice for everyone


All coaches and other school personnel should be masked, and gloved when appropriate with

PPE.

Competition

Host schools can add personnel to the pool deck and seating areas in multiple key spots to

monitor physical distancing.


Masks cannot be worn while swimming, but recommended before and after practice for everyone


No pre or post-meet handshakes or fist bumps should take place.

All event workers should be masked, and gloved when appropriate.

Timers, table personnel, officials and coaches should wear masks.

All event workers should be masked, and gloved when appropriate with PPE.

COVID 19 Protocols & Procedures – Boys Tennis

The MHSAA/NFHS Guidance for Re-Opening School Sports lists Tennis as a low

risk sport. Low risk sports can be done with physical distancing or individually with no








Practice

All athletic equipment should be cleaned intermittently during practices and contests.

Hand sanitizer should be plentiful at all contests and practices.

Competition

No handshakes/high-fives/fist bumps between competitors, doubles partners, athletes and

coaches, coaches or coaches and tournament management.

No pre-match instructions.

No team huddles.

No competitor chairs allowed on court (unless they can be properly disinfected after each use).

Players bags/gear and or chairs (on court) must be 3’ from the net post (6’ total).

Whoever’s bag is on the side of the score (and closest for doubles) is the only one to update the

score.

Players need to use hand sanitizer before entering and when exiting the court.

Coaches are encouraged to wear face coverings when communicating with competitors during

breaks in the match as well as off court.

When switching sides, players will go directly to their bag and should not cross paths with their

opponent.

If passing a player from another court while switching sides, both players must maintain physical

distancing guidelines.

At the conclusion of the match, this scoring device must be sanitized before the next match may

utilize it.

When returning balls to an adjacent court, player should use their racquet only (do not touch the

ball with their hands…)

Ball Assignments: Be sure correct ball #’s are assigned to the correct court #’s.

If you use two cans of balls or 4 balls per court, you want them to be the

same number so that it meets the requirements of ball assignment. One set

of balls (two or three) should have an "X" on them. So one player on

Court 1 will have #1s and the other will have #1Xs. Court 2 will have #2s

and #2Xs.

Proceed with play, making sure to pick up your set of numbered

balls only. Should a ball with the other number wind up on your

side of the court, do not touch the ball with your hands. Use

your racquet head or feet to advance the ball to the other side of

the court.

Each team is responsible for its own hand sanitizer and its own

med kit.

COVID 19 Protocols & Procedures – Volleyball

The MHSAA/NFHS Guidance For Re-Opening School Sports lists Volleyball as a

moderate risk sport. Moderate risk sports involve close, sustained contact, but with

protective equipment in place that may reduce the likelihood of respiratory particle

transmission between participants OR intermittent close contact OR group sports OR

sports that use equipment that can’t be cleaned between participants. Volleyball could

potentially be considered “Lower Risk” with appropriate cleaning of equipment and use

of face coverings by participants.


Indoor practice and competition cannot begin until indoor school gymnasiums are opened.






Practice


Competition


Nets, standards and officials stands should be cleaned and sanitized after set up and before

contest.


Eliminate benches, allow players to stand with physical distancing (players cannot be closer than

6 feet to the court.)

Recommend face coverings be worn during the captains meeting. Visiting team serves first.

Only athletes will touch the balls; ball should be set on the floor during a timeout. Ball shagging

should be done by athletes.

A sanitized back up ball should be available at the score table (someone needs to be designated to

sanitize the ball.) Host schools should have a 3-ball rotation.

Players need to use hand sanitizer before entering and when exiting the court during substitutions

or with libero; no hand touching allowed during substitutions (sanitizer could be set up on a chair

at end of bench.)

Each school is responsible to bring towels to wipe up sweat off the floor; host schools are

recommended to provide a roll of paper towels at the scorer’s table.

on a final note, i cannot emphasize enough how seriously

Documents