Winter Sports: Measures in place to keep athletes safe

The winter sports season is approaching, and despite many uncertainties, SMSD and the Kansas High School Athletic Association are forming a comprehensive plan to keep athletes and their families safe. 

On Oct. 27, the Johnson County Health & Environment Director, Sanmi Areola, issued a public statement addressed to superintendents recommending that schools not allow indoor sports or activities where mitigation techniques are not possible, such as basketball or wrestling, due to the level of community transmission and the risks involved. 

Despite this recommendation, the Shawnee Mission School District, and other school districts in Johnson County are still planning to continue with winter sports under strict guidelines. 

“We definitely want to keep everyone safe,” East’s Athletic Director Debbie Katzfey said. “We want to offer as much as we can for all kids to stay involved and do the things they love.”

With fall sports coming to a close, the primary focus among high school athletics during a  pandemic is now being switched to winter sports, which all take place in indoor facilities. According to Katzfey, there will be a limitation on the number of fans allowed because there is no outside ventilation.

Along with limiting the number of fans allowed at games and events, Katzfey noted the importance of keeping everything sanitized and making sure athletes and spectators are following Kansas High School Athletic Association rules. 

East has already purchased three electrostatic sprayers and is planning to purchase two more. According to Commercial Cleaning Corp., electrostatic spray surface cleaning is the process of spraying an electrostatically-charged mist onto surfaces and objects. Electrostatic spray uses a specialized solution that is combined with air and atomized by an electrode inside the sprayer. Katzfey mentioned this disinfection method is supposed to be very effective.

Along with using sanitizing sprays throughout the school building and on surfaces inside gyms, the district is also required to take extra safety precautions such as wiping basketballs between games and requiring wrestlers to take showers between matches.

“We will be doing a whole lot of extra wiping things down and sanitizing throughout the season,” Katzfey said. “We are also not allowing students to use lockers because we have to make sure we only allow groups of 10 or less in the locker room at a time.”

Athletes participating in basketball, wrestling and swimming are required to wear a mask when they are not actively competing. Bowlers are required to wear masks at all times during practice and competition. Katzfey also mentioned that it remains critical that coaches and staff must wear masks at all times. 

To further reduce the risk of transmission throughout schools, all tournaments previously planned for all winter sports are canceled — including the Sunflower League Tournaments for swim and dive and basketball.

In addition, there will be no large swim meets or invitationals. Swim and dive events will be limited to a maximum of four participating schools in each meet.