Last fall the Maine Principals Association passed the buck on COVID-19 regulations for winter sports onto individual school districts. Decisions on masking, spectators, vaccinations, and other COVID-19 protocols were left up to individual school systems.
The decisions run the gamut from no away spectators, to any and all spectators. Some local schools allow 4 to 6 spectators per athlete per game.
One decision left up to local school districts is the protocol for return to play after an athlete has contracted the virus. Athletes on some teams can return to activity the day they return to school. This policy is followed by Wiscasset Middle High School, high school girls varsity coach Radar Applebee believes.
Wiscasset athletic director Warren Cossette said the school is following State SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedure). Maine SOPs do not have specific guidelines for athletes returning to play after recovering from COVID-19.
Schools like Lincoln Academy and Medomak Valley High School have taken a more cautionary approach. They are following an adapted form of the American Academy of Pediatrics COVID-19 Interim Guidance Return to Sports and Physical Activity guidelines.
The AAP approach returns athletes to play, once they have returned to school, through a 7-day process of gradually increasing physical activity.
The MPA’s adopt whatever policy a school wants has put some teams at a distinct disadvantage, as a star athlete on some teams can return to action quickly, while at other schools recovering athletes must wait an additional seven days before they can return to action.
The AAP guidelines at Lincoln and Medomak have added to the extra work that COVID-19 has created. Medomak athletic trainer Lindsey Carr and athletic director Matt Lash have made a spreadsheet to keep track of what stage their recovering athletes are at. At Lincoln Academy, the job is done by athletic trainer Megan Day.
Both Lash and LA athletic director KJ Anastasio said the past two years of COVID-19 have been the toughest in their careers. From scheduling and re-scheduling, to keeping up with the revolving door of COVID-19 protocols.
Day said last year was easier when the MPA regulated COVID-19 policies, because the rules stayed the same throughout the season, but this year, COVID regulations have changed at least three times, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Athletic directors are constantly fielding questions from angry parents who do not like the policies in place, or are confused about the changing policies.
AAP return to play policy
The AAP guidelines divide athletes with COVID into three categories, including asymptomatic or mild, moderate, and severe. Athletes in the asymptomatic to mild category can be assessed by a personal care physician over the phone. Athletes in the moderate symptom category need to have an in-person evaluation with a PCP before returning. Athletes in the severe category (intubation or cardiac problems) need to wait 3-6 months before returning to activity.
Athletes must then pass three criteria before they can return to play. They must have completed isolation, and been symptom free for the minimum amount of time; they have to be able to perform all activities of daily living, and have no concerning signs and symptoms.
Once athletes age 12 and over have met those requirements, they can begin a five-stage process of gradually increasing physical activity over a 7-day period. Athletes under the age of 12 can progress according to their own tolerance.
In the first stage, (days 1-2) athletes can work out for a maximum of 15 minutes. Activities allowed include walking, jogging or peddling on a stationary bike. The workout cannot be more than 70% of their maximum heart rate.
Stage 2 (day 3) athletes may engage in 30 minutes of activity, including simple movement, running drills, with the intensity no greater than 80% of their maximum heart rate.
Stage 3 (day 4) athletes can work out for up to 45 minutes in more complex training that does not exceed 80% of maximum heart rate.
Stage 4 (days 5-6) athletes can work out up to 60 minutes and be involved in normal training activity that does not exceed 80% of their maximum heart rate.
Stage 4 (day 7) athletes are allowed to return to full activity.
