Athletics Update 01/04/21

Due to Cumberland county going YELLOW in the last color designation, all athletics and activities are considered red. No in person activities are allowed until further notice. Virtual activities are still allowed. The next color designation is 01/15/21

Athletics Update 12/19/20

Due to Cumberland county going YELLOW in the last color designation, all athletics and activities are considered red. No in person activities are allowed until further notice. Virtual activities are still allowed. The next color designation is 12/31/20

Athletics Update 12/15/20

Westbrook Athletics is suspended until further notice due to the High School going remote. We anticipate Athletics to resume on Monday 12/21/20 for B Cohort students.

12/21 B cohort

12/22 B cohort

12/23 A corhort

Athletics Update 12/7/20

What we know:

• The MPA has pushed back the start date of Winter Sports until January 4th, 2021.

• Skills, drills and conditioning is allowed (in person) BY the MPA with masks and social distancing starting 12/7/2020.

• Westbrook intends on starting skills, drills, and conditioning on 12/14/2020.

• Only in person skills, drills, and conditioning in school cohorts. (A day or B day)

• All athletes and coaches must fill out WHS  Daily Covid screening by 1:00pm the day of practices.

• Masks must be worn at all times with the exception of swimmers while in the water.

• Social distancing must occur at all times.

• Competitions may be selected from regional schools

• Covid protocols will be in place (Daily athletic screenings, distancing, masks worn at all times even during skills, drills and conditioning, etc).

• No scrimmaging or close contact.

• Increased cleaning schedule between practices and competitions.

• The MPA has dictated no spectators at MPA indoor events Practice or competition.

• Athletes are responsible for their own water bottle filled every day.

• Students will only be allowed in the school during their practice time for athletics. 

• No hanging out in the building. 

• Governor’s people per square footage guidelines applicable to HS facilities (ie. Basketball court = 4700sqft = 20.7 people max per court) realistic spacing is 15-18 people per usable court space?

• Basketball

• Games are slated to begin on January 8th.

• Only in person skills, drills, and conditioning in school cohorts. (A day or B day)

• No locker rooms.

• Come prepared (dressed) to practice or play.

• Each athlete must supply their own water bottle and water.

• Masks must be worn at all times even during activities.

• Athletes are expected to bring their own masks.

• No more than 22 people traveling or at a competition for Basketball (22 from each school  + 2 officials + Clock person + Bookkeeper + AD and AT = 50 people in facility)

• Coaches are responsible for cleaning

• Swimming

• Competitions are slated to begin on January 8th.

• Only in person skills, drills, and conditioning in school cohorts. (A day or B day)

• Virtual competitions. 

• Each athlete must supply their own water bottle and water.

• Masks must be worn at all times when not in the pool.

• Athletes are expected to bring their own masks.

• No more than 18 people on a pool deck (in facility)

• Come dressed for activity

• Limited locker room and bathroom access (After practice)

• Coaches responsible for cleaning

• Practice time 3-4 Mon-Thursday in cohorts

• Cheering

• Competitions are slated to begin on January 8th.

• Only in person skills, drills, and conditioning in school cohorts. (A day or B day)

• Stunt Cohorts.

• Virtual competitions.

• Each athlete must supply their own water bottle and water.

• Masks must be worn at all times even during activities.

• Athletes are expected to bring their own masks.

• Track

• Practice start  1/4/2021).

• Only in person skills, drills, and conditioning in school cohorts. (A day or B day)

• No hallways to practice Outside only).

• Running/conditioning club outside (run,possible snowshoe,XC SkI etc.) No equipment at this time

• No college facilities at this time.

• Highly unlikely to have a season due to numbers of competitors and personnel needed to run a competition. 

• Talk of virtual competitions, but these are not practical at this time.

• Each athlete must supply their own water bottle and water.

• Masks must be worn at all times even during activities.

• Athletes are expected to bring their own masks.

• No locker rooms

• Wrestling

• No start date yet (possible start, February 2021)  

• The MPA has pushed back the start date to later in the year. 

• Not feasible at this time due to contact restrictions.

• Ice Hockey 

• We have 4 Westbrook athletes competing for the Trailblazers. 

• Windham is the lead school. 

• Practices and potential games are at Bridgton Academy.

• Each athlete must supply their own water bottle and water.

• Masks must be worn at all times even during activities.

• Athletes are expected to bring their own masks.

• Unified Basketball

• May be introduced in a second winter season, possible late January 2021.

• Each athlete must supply their own water bottle and water.

• Masks must be worn at all times even during activities.

• Athletes are expected to bring their own masks.

• Volleyball

• May be introduced in a second winter season, possible February 2021

Plan:  (Skills, Drills and Conditioning) from 12/14/2020 until 1/4/2021

• Only in person skills, drills, and conditioning in school cohorts. (A day or B day)

• If you have in person school you have in person practice that day.

• If you do not have in person school you do not have in person practice that day.

• Home schooled (virtual, Baxter, etc.) athletes will be assigned a cohort.

• Possible virtual practices Monday - Saturday for athletes when not in person. 

Rationale:

• Keeps numbers down which helps with Covid 19 protocols

• Helps with contact tracing

• Helps avoid a super spreader scenario

• Allows for more personal attention to each athlete for skills, drills and conditioning.

HS Gym breakdown 12/14/2020 - 1/4/2021: M,T,W,Th

• 2:30 - 3:00 Disinfect 

• 3:00 - 4:00 Group 1

• 4:00 - 4:30 Disinfect

• 4:30 - 5:30 Group 2

• 5:30 - 6:00 Disinfect

• 6:00 - 7:00 Group 3

• 7:00 - 7:30 Disinfect

• 7:30 - 8:30 Group 4

• 8:30 Final Disinfect

The Building is closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday

What  WE DO NOT KNOW:

• If we are going to have competitions face to face at all.

• If the college facilities are going to allow use of their facilities.

• If the Governor's order of 50 people in a facility during intense exercise will be lifted to allow the possibility of indoor track.

• If we will have Indoor Track at all.

• If we will have Wrestling at all.

• If Unified Basketball will happen at all.

• What restrictions and guidelines are to come. 

• Are the Governor’s people per square footage guidelines applicable to HS facilities (Basketball court = 4700sqft = 20.7 people max per court) realistic spacing is 15-18 people per usable court space?

November 12, 2020  (update)

 The MPA has released the tentative start date of the 2020/2021 Winter season as 12/14/20. The schools have not received the approved sport specific guidelines from the MPA as of yet. Also, the schools have not received the specifics on which sports will be allowed and which sports will not be allowed to participate.  I hope to have this information before 12/1.

Thank you,

Blair Marelli 

2020 Fall Sports SMAA Spectator Announcement 

Southwestern Maine Activities Association

On September 10, 2020, the Southwestern Maine Activities Association’s Athletic Administrators voted to be in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order regarding indoor and outdoor gathering limits. As a result of this Executive Order, the SMAA member schools will have no spectators for any Fall, 2020 events /games. As an Association, we realize this measure is very different from years past in all of our communities, but the health and safety of our student athletes, coaches, officials, game personnel and community at large are, and will continue to be, our top priority as we navigate through return to play.

 

******UPDATE 08/20/20****** 

Southwestern Maine Activities Association

 

“For Immediate Release - Thursday, August 20, 2020”: Southwestern Maine Activities Association postpones in-person interscholastic athletics until Tuesday, September 8, 2020

 

On Wednesday, August 19, 2020, the Cumberland and York County superintendents voted to delay in-person interscholastic athletics to a date no sooner than Tuesday, September 8.  This date represents the official start date the MPA announced in July.  We are awaiting word from the MPA on the status of the Fall Sports Season and what that may look like.  SMAA schools cannot risk a further delay to the start of the school year by holding athletic programming on school grounds for two weeks prior to the start of school (MPA Phase 4 summer conditioning program).  By delaying until September 8^th, SMAA schools can focus on starting the school year and open schools without the fear of on campus transmission occurring  through our own sports programs prior to that.

With MPA guidance due to arrive next week, SMAA schools will be able to determine next steps regarding the fall sports season with a full understanding of what the season will look like.  This will allow the association and its member schools an opportunity to develop a comprehensive plan for interscholastic athletics that may have reduced or canceled interscholastic seasons.

 

SMAA Athletic Administrators

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