The Nebraska School Activities Association anounced the following guidelines for member schools to follow for the winter season for Play Production, Bowling, Wrestling, Swimming & Diving, Girls and Boys Basketball and Speech.
2020-21 NSAA Winter Season Guidelines:
Circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic are constantly changing and the circumstances vary from community to community. Difficult decisions will have to be made from week to week or even day to day. The health and safety of students, staff, and local communities remain the priority of the NSAA as we provide opportunities to participate in the winter sports season.
Each school has the authority to determine if it will participate in the 2020-21 Winter Season. During the season it will be the responsibility of the host school to provide administrative oversight in compliance with established COVID-19 guidelines in accordance with their local health departments and facilities.
Additionally, the NSAA is requiring the following of host schools for all winter season contests:
• Participants are permitted, but not required, to wear face coverings during competition.
• Coaches and non-active participants are required to wear face coverings at all times.
• Spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times while attending indoor events.
• Host school requirements must be the same for all schools, officials, judges and spectators.
All participating schools, officials, judges and spectators are expected to adhere to these requirements.
The host school should make every effort to mitigate risk and provide adequate opportunities for physical distancing procedures for the visiting schools, officials, judges and all spectators.
Protocols for winter contest hosts to consider:
• Restrict attendance/seating areas
• Create separate points of entry for home and visitor teams/spectators
• Provide no concession stands or separate/multiple concession stands for home and visitor spectators
• Provide separate/multiple restrooms for home and visitor spectators
• Communicate availability of locker room space for the opposing team and officials
• Implement diligent and effective cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched objects and surfaces
During practice, coaches should make accommodations for physical distancing whenever possible. Provide adequate spacing when participating in stretching, instructional time and drills. Conduct workouts in small groups whenever possible.
During competition, the team and bench areas should be restricted to essential personnel only. Coaches, officials, and players should be cognizant of physical distancing guidelines when interacting before, during, and after contests.
Schools are encouraged to play their regularly scheduled competitions unless a COVID-19 issue prevents them from playing. Member schools shall be solely responsible for determining whether a scheduled game, match, contest, or other activity is cancelled or postponed due to a COVID-19 related issue in consultation with their local health departments. Member schools shall notify the NSAA of any cancellation or postponement.
The NSAA has great appreciation for all its member schools and their tireless efforts to provide opportunities for learning and participation in NSAA activities. Communication, flexibility, and patience will be key in supporting our high school student participants as they participate in activities this winter season.
2020 NSAA Play Production District Contest Information
These modifications are subject to change in response to COVID-19.
Participants, coaches, judges or spectators that feel sick should not attend or participate in practice or competition. The NSAA requires all non-active participants, coaches, and spectators to wear face coverings.
Physical distancing should be practiced when possible.
The health and safety of students, staff, and local communities remain the priority of the NSAA.
The NSAA is implementing the following requirements for host schools of all NSAA district play production contests:
• Participants are permitted, but not required, to wear face coverings during competition.
• Spectators and judges are required to wear face coverings at all times.
• Directors, crew members and non-active participants are required to wear face coverings at all times.
• Interactions between participants, spectators, and judges must adhere to physical distancing guidelines.
• Performances must be scheduled at least 1 hour apart.
• Physically-distanced areas must be created for judges during competition and oral critiques.
• The host school may establish additional requirements in consultation with local health departments. Additional requirements implemented by the host school must be the same for all schools, judges, and spectators.
All participating schools, judges and spectators are expected to adhere to these requirements.
Optional protocols for play production district contest hosts to consider:
• Designate specific arrival/departure times for participating schools (ex. arrive, setup, perform, teardown, leave)
• Create separate points of entry for cast/crew and spectators
• Restrict attendance/specific seating areas for participating schools/spectators
• Limit theatre/backstage areas to essential personnel only
• Consider digital oral critiques and/or awards ceremony (Zoom, Facebook Live, etc.)
• Communicate availability of locker/dressing room facilities
• Provide limited concession stands or multiple concession stands
• Provide separate or multiple restrooms for participating schools/judges
• Sanitize frequently touched objects and surfaces in theatre/backstage areas
In play production, NSAA member schools apply and volunteer to host district contests. Often, there is a shortage of
willing and available member schools to serve as hosts. Therefore, district contest hosts in play production will have the
full support of the NSAA, should they implement additional COVID-19 protocols at their facility.
2020-21 NSAA Bowling Rules Modifications & Considerations
These modifications are subject to change in response to COVID-19.
Participants, coaches, officials or spectators that feel sick should not attend or participate in practice or competition. The
NSAA requires all non-active participants, coaches, and spectators to wear face coverings. Physical distancing should be practiced when possible.
NSAA Approved Rulings:
1. Extend the deadline to submit varsity schedules from November 19th to December 3rd.
2. Any regular season contest canceled due to COVID-19 will be considered a “no-contest.”
a. Schools will notify the NSAA of any contest cancellations.
b. Wild card points will not be awarded for “no-contest” competitions.
c. Forfeits will not be issued for a “no-contest.”
3. Replacement contests (not originally scheduled) may be scheduled at any time.
a. Wild card points will not be awarded.
b. Contest limitations may not be exceeded.
***The host administration must pre-communicate local protocols & activity requirements to participating school(s).***
USBC/NSAA Rules Modifications & Considerations:
Schedule: Consider adapting your contest schedule to accommodate social distancing.
Single Lane, USBC Rules 106a/106b & 320a/320b: Individual teams are temporarily allowed to compete on a single lane
without the requirements to rotate lanes (on a pair). You may schedule open lanes between teams and play opponents
on different lanes. Work with your bowling center management before deciding on how to schedule teams while
accommodating social distancing.
Facial Coverings: Facial coverings are required for any coach and inactive participant. Active participants may remove
their facial covering when on the approach. Coverings should not be distracting and have no designs.
Cleaning, USBC Rule 18: Bowlers are temporarily allowed to use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to clean their bowling ball during competition. This exception only applies to isopropyl alcohol – no other USBC-approved cleaners will be allowed during competition.
Further Considerations:
Sanitization: Schools should discuss and consider sanitizing strategies with bowling center management. This should include capturing and storing equipment that is used daily.
Equipment: Participants should not share equipment.
2020-21 Wrestling Rules Modifications & Considerations
These modifications are subject to change in response to COVID-19.
Participants, coaches, officials or spectators that feel sick should not attend or participate in practice or competition. The NSAA requires all non-active participants, coaches, and spectators to wear face coverings. Physical distancing should be practiced when possible.
NSAA Approved Ruling Modifications:
• Team/individual contest limitations will change from 10 tournament dates and 8 individual duals to – 18 total competition dates. Schedules will still need to be entered intoTrack wrestling for purposes of weight management as weigh-in sheets will still be required for each competition.
• Teams will not be required to input schedules into the NSAA system to allow for necessary changes during the season.
• When possible, consider dual meet format for contests
• NSAA Wrestling Manual states that any contest that have more than 4 teams must be considered a tournament.
• Recommend that tournaments be limited to no more than eight teams or, for individual tournaments, 112 participants.
• When possible, multiple gyms or spaces also recommended when there are more than 4 teams competing – to minimize exposure.
• Attendance can be limited according to the respective DHM capacity restrictions
Additional NFHS/NSAA Wrestling Rules Modification/Considerations
• Consider temperature checks conducted at weigh-ins (for coaches and athletes)
• Weigh-ins completed by team rather than shoulder-to-shoulder
• Wrestlers are required to wear a face covering when in the weigh-in area
• Eliminate shaking hands with officials at any time
• Eliminate shaking hands with opposing coach
• Officials will not raise the winner’s hand
• Officials should not go the table for a coach’s meeting if the coach is not wearing a face covering
• Flip disc should be caught by the official instead of allowing it to hit the mat
• Officials can wear face coverings but are not required
• Consider percentage of capacity allowance for spectators – follow respective DHM’s for your area
Additional Considerations
Practices
• Temp checks prior to practice – all coaches and wrestlers
• Pods of no more than 4-5 to workout with daily, throughout season
• Mandatory cleaning of mats and surfaces before and after every practice
• No shared towels, practice gear, headgear, etc.
• No shared drinking facilities (individual water bottles)
• Disinfecting wipes, spray or foam for wrestlers before and/or immediately after practice
Competitions
• Temperature checks conducted at weigh-ins (for coaches, athletes and officials)
• Mandatory cleaning of mats before the start of each dual meet, at session breaks and at the conclusion of competition for each day
• Conduct weigh-ins in the competition area by team (larger than the locker room or wrestling room where they are typically held)
• Coaches need to wear face coverings at all times
• All workers must wear face coverings
• When not competing, wrestlers and need to wear face coverings and physical distance (designated space for respective teams and they should only sit in those areas) Utilize multiple gyms or classrooms if possible - Designate specific areas for teams to sit and keeps respective teams in their designated area when seated
• Sanitary wipes and sanitizer available at the scoring/head tables
• Reduce the traveling parties to essential personnel only (competitors and coaches, medical personnel)
Venues, Workers and Spectators
• All staff, workers, and spectators must wear a face covering
• Prepare gym/arena for physical distancing, where possible - follow respective DHM’s for your area and follow capacity limitations
• Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes available at each scorer’s table
• Writing utensils, when used, handled by one person or sanitized between uses by other workers
• Limit the number of workers at each table – only necessary personnel
Officials
• Officials are NOT responsible for monitoring activities on the sidelines, such as physical distancing, hand sanitizing, symptoms of illness and other such issues. This monitoring is the responsibility of the respective coaching staff and school personnel.
• Face coverings required when arriving and departing and optional when actively officiating
• May wear disposable gloves
• Do not share equipment
2020-21 NSAA Swimming & Diving Rules Modifications & Considerations
These modifications are subject to change in response to COVID-19.
Participants, coaches, officials, judges, or spectators that feel sick should not attend or participate in practice or
competition. The NSAA requires all non-active participants, coaches, and spectators to wear face coverings. Physical
distancing should be practiced when possible.
NSAA Approved Rulings:
• Extend the deadline to submit varsity schedules on MaxPreps from November 19th to December 3rd.
• PLEASE NOTE – there is no contest limitation in NSAA Swimming & Diving.
• Schools can conduct “intrasquad” meets and achieve state qualifying times, if meets are conducted under the
jurisdiction of a full complement of officials and fully automatic timing (FAT) is used. These meets must be listed
on the MaxPreps schedule by 12/3.
• If a dual is postponed due to COVID-19, it can be contested as an “intrasquad” meet.
• Multi-team contests postponed due to COVID-19 can be re-scheduled with any number of the original teams
entered in the contest.
• Schools can conduct “virtual meets” and achieve state qualifying times, at sites in which meets are conducted
under the jurisdiction of a full complement of officials and fully automatic timing (FAT) is used.
NFHS Swimming & Diving COVID-19 Rules Considerations:
• Conduct (1-3-2) - Require athletes to arrive at venue already in competitive attire or provide alternative accommodations for swimmers and divers to change that allows for 6 feet of social distancing.
• Lap Counting (2-7-6, 3-4) - Only one person per lane should be permitted at turning end.
• Pre-Meet Conference (3-3-6, 4-2-1d) - Decrease number of participants or hold one conference with coaches and one meeting with captains. The referee can use P.A. system or starting system microphone to allow participants to hear but keep them properly separated.
• Referee and Starter (4-2, 4-3) - Alternative methods for communication between officials, coaches and athletes could include utilization of the P.A. system, hand signals or written communication. An electronic whistle is strongly recommended.
• Notification of Disqualification (4-2-2d, e) - Notification shall occur from a distance via use of hand signals or the P.A. system.
• Meet Officials (4-8, 4-10, 4-11, 4-12, 4-13) - Develop alternative methods for submitting entries (3-2) and movement of non-electronic information. Create a distance of 6 feet between individuals seated at the timing desk/table, when possible. Officials are required to wear face coverings at all times.
• Timers (4-9) - Timers must assemble at the finish of each race, at the edge of the pool within the 6-8 feet confines of the lane which they are timing. Timers are required to wear facial coverings at all times.
• Submission of Entries to Referee (5-2) - Alternative forms of entry submission can be designed to reduce faceto-face interaction when submitting a proper entry, where/how/to whom entries are submitted, and a reduction or elimination of certain penalties currently attached to improper entries.
• Relay Takeoff Judges and Relays (8-3) - Require all takeoff judging from the sides of the pool. Space relay swimmers apart from one another. Timers and relay takeoff judges are required to wear facial coverings.
• Diving Officials (9-6) - Develop alternative methods for submitting entries (3-2) and movement of non-electronic information. Create a distance of 6 feet between individuals seated at the desk/table and between judges by spacing groups of judges on opposite sides of boards or on one side of the board on a multi-level platform, when possible.
General Considerations:
• Swimming Warm-up Areas - Establish multiple sessions for warm-up periods to limit number of
swimmers per lane. Restrict the number of swimmers in competition area. Limit number of swimmers per lane during warm-up and warm-down periods.
• Diving Warm-up Areas - Limit number of divers during warm-up by creating multiple sessions. During competition, divers may not approach the board until their turn to compete. Hot tubs should not be permitted. Dive order sheets should be posted in multiple areas to reduce number of divers viewing at the same time.
• Teams Seating and Lane Placement - Keep the teams on opposite sides of the pool and require the home team to compete in lanes 1-3 and visitors to swim in lanes 4-6.
• Preparing Athletes for Competition - Athlete clerking areas should be eliminated.
2020-21 NSAA Basketball Rules Modifications & Considerations
These modifications are subject to change in response to COVID-19.
Participants, coaches, officials or spectators that feel sick should not attend or participate in practice or competition. The NSAA requires all non-active participants, coaches, and spectators to wear face coverings. Physical distancing should be practiced when possible.
NSAA Approved Rulings:
1. Extend the deadline to submit varsity schedules from November 19th to December 3rd.
2. Games canceled due to COVID-19 will be considered a “no contest”
a. Wild card points will not be awarded for “no contest” games.
b. Schools will notify the NSAA of any game cancellations.
c. Forfeits will not be issued for “no contest” matches.
3. Replacement games (not originally scheduled) may be scheduled at any time with schools who have lost a game due to COVID-19.
a. Wild card points will not be awarded.
b. Contest limits/competition points may not be exceeded.
c. Schools will notify the NSAA of any replacement games scheduled.
d. Four team tournaments that are scheduled may use a format to predetermine matchups so that teams are playing the same schools with both genders both days. Four team tournaments that are scheduled and lose one team due to COVID-19 may play a triangular scheduled over three days.
The following are some things to be considered, not required:
1. Play the boys and girls games on separate nights that previously were scheduled to play four games on one night at the same location.
2. Play the boys and girls games at different locations on the same night, these would be games that were previously scheduled to play four games on one night at one location. (girls home and boys away)
3. If possible, allow both teams to warmup in an alternate gym and then when the previous game ends, minimize the warmup on the game floor so time between games is shortened to help reduce the time that spectators congregate (concessions, commons, restroom areas, etc.).
NFHS Game Protocols:
1. Basketball Rules Considerations
a. Pregame Protocol
Limit attendees to the referee and the head coach from each team with all individuals maintaining a social distance of 6 feet or greater.
Eliminate handshakes and fist bumps prior to and following the Pregame Conference.
b. Team Benches
Social distancing should be practiced when possible. Below are some suggestions (not required).
• Limit the number of bench personnel to observe social distancing of 6 feet or greater.
• Additional chairs or rows may be added to allow bench personnel to
observe social distancing of 6 feet or greater.
• Create separation between the team bench and spectator seating behind
the bench (recommendation would be the 1st 2 rows of seating on team
bench side whenever possible).
• Personnel not in the game are required to wear face coverings.
• Timeouts- If possible, move team benches on to the playing floor away from traffic exiting or entering the gym.
c. Officials Table
Limit seats at the table to essential personnel which includes home team scorer, timer, and announcer with a recommend distance of 6 feet or greater between individuals. Other personnel (visiting scorer, statisticians, media, etc.) may not be deemed essential personnel and consider an alternate location for them.
Table personnel are required to wear face coverings.
2. Pre and Post Game Ceremony
a. Eliminate the pregame introduction handshakes and fist bumps.
b. Eliminate the post-game protocol of shaking hands.
3. Basketball Rules Interpretations
a. EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES
Sanitizer should be provided by the host team at the table.
Cloth face coverings are permissible for players.
Coaching staff and other bench personnel including nonactive players are required to wear face coverings while on the bench.
b. Officials Uniform and Equipment
Long-sleeved shirts are permissible.
Officials should not wear jackets during pre-game court/player observation.
Electronic whistles are permissible.
Cloth face coverings are permissible.
Gloves are permissible.
4. Other Considerations
a. Throw-in
Official may stand 6 feet or greater away from player making the throw-in and bounce the ball to that player on a front court throw-in.
b. Free Throw Administration
The lead official may stand on the end line and bounce the ball to the free thrower.
5. Considerations for Officials
a. Take your temperature prior to attending your competition. If temperature is above 100.4, stay home.
b. If you do not feel well and COVID-19 symptoms are present, stay home.
c. Do not share equipment.
d. Follow social distancing guidelines during pre- and post-game conferences and during games.
e. Do not shake hands or fist bump other officials, players or coaches.
f. Officials may wear face coverings at all times.
g. Officials are NOT responsible for monitoring activities on the sidelines, such as social distancing, hand sanitizing, symptoms of illness and other such issues. This monitoring remains with the coaching staff and school personnel.
2020-21 NSAA Speech Modifications
These modifications are subject to change in response to COVID-19.
Participants, coaches, judges or spectators that feel sick should not attend or participate in practice or competition. The NSAA requires all non-active participants, coaches, and spectators to wear face coverings. Physical distancing should be practiced when possible.
The health and safety of students, staff, and local communities remain the priority of the NSAA.
The NSAA is implementing the following requirements for host schools of all regular season speech contests:
• Participants are permitted, but not required, to wear face coverings during performances.
• Coaches, non-active participants and spectators are required to wear face coverings at all times.
• Judges are required to wear face coverings at all times.
• Physically-distanced areas must be created for judges during competition.
General Considerations for Speech:
• Utilize rooms with good ventilation and air change rate for both in-person practice and competition
• Minimize in-person practice time to 30 minutes, with physical distancing, when possible
• Restrict attendance at in-person contests
• Restrict who is allowed in performance rooms during in-person contests (ex. judge & active participant(s) only)
• Designate specific team areas/rooms for participating schools at in-person contests
• Provide limited concession stands or multiple concession stands
• Provide pre-packaged or boxed meals/snacks for hospitality rooms/concession stands
• Provide separate or multiple restrooms for participating schools/judges
• Provide hand sanitizer in all competition rooms/team areas
• Sanitize frequently touched objects and surfaces in performance areas/rooms
• Conduct speech contests virtually (SpeechWire/NSDA Campus, Tabroom.com/NSDA Campus, Zoom, etc.)
• Utilize electronic ballots/tabulation (SpeechWire, Tabroom.com)
• Hold a digital awards ceremony (Zoom, Facebook Live, etc.)
• Communicate contest protocols/information to all participating schools/judges well in advance of the contest