Introduction
The Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association’s “Guidance I” is effective August 4, 2021. This guidance is in conjunction with Gubernatorial Emergency Directive 048. This document incorporates that guidance and is in line with it. This guidance is subject to amendment and re-issuance at any time. This document is developed in consultation with the Governor’s office, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”) and the State of Nevada Department of Education (“NDE”). It considers recommendations from the National Federation of State High School Associations’ (NFHS) sports rules and sports medicine advisory committees. Strict adherence to this guidance is critical to competition taking place. Additional mandates, guidelines, directives and policies issued by state and county health authorities, state and county governments and local control agencies that are more restrictive must be complied with by Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (“NIAA”) member school districts and schools in those jurisdictions.
Declarations
The NIAA member school districts and schools sign annually a Membership Application adopting and agreeing to abide by the rules, regulations and policies of the Association. Directive 048 and any other directive, mandate or guidance from the State of Nevada denoting the NIAA inherently become part of said Membership Application. NIAA member school districts and schools must comply with the Membership Application to be eligible to compete against other NIAA member school districts and schools. A non-complying member school district or school may also lose status to compete against member schools of other state associations within the NFHS. NIAA member school districts and schools may institute more restrictive measures than the minimum standards established within this NIAA Guidance I, with noted exceptions. Out-of-county opponents traveling must adhere to the more restrictive measures in place from their hosting opponent with noted exceptions. The NIAA is education-based. NIAA-sanctioned sports are an extension of the educational experience of student-athletes. Membership and participation in NIAA-sanctioned sports is a privilege, not a constitutional right. Donnie Nelson, RAA, Interim Executive Director Jay Beesemyer, Assistant Director Bartt Davis, Coordinator of Sports Lori Lotts, Administrative Assistant Paul Anderson, Legal Counsel Bob Northridge, CMAA, Southern Coordinator Bart Thompson, M.Ed., CAA, Eligibility Officer Brady Raggio, G.M. of Sports Properties Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association 1188 Victorian Plaza Circle · Sparks, Nevada 89431 · (775) 453-1012 · Fax (775) 453-1016 NIAA Guidance I, 2
Definitions
“Team Members” are Contest Eligible Participants, coaches, associated staff and volunteers connected with the team or sport’s program at the school.
“Contest Eligible Participants” are student-athletes officially on the team’s roster (Register My Athlete), in uniform and submitted on the lineup card / listed in the scorebook.
A “Competitive Week” is 12:00 a.m. (0:00:00) Monday through 11:59 p.m. (23:59:59) Saturday.
“Indoors” is any enclosed facility on a school campus, including but not limited to, locker rooms, restrooms, team rooms, competition areas, spectator areas and auxiliary areas within the facility.
Guidance
The State of Nevada, per Emergency Directive 034, determined previously that Football, Basketball and Wrestling are Full-Contact / Close-Contact sports with a high level of risk.