State Covid-19 rules complicate sports

In November, the Pennsylvania Department of Education required school districts to sign a form that they would follow Covid-19 regulations, but some of these policies have created turmoil for school sports.

According to the PDE website, the Attestation Form is a written commitment to follow Covid-19 regulations throughout the school day and sports. Schools in areas where Covid-19 was spreading substantially had to sign the form. This includes schools in 63 of the state’s 67 counties, according to an ABC27 report.

Milton’s Attestation Form states that the school has agreed to comply with the “Update Order of the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health Requiring Universal Face Coverings.” This order explains that face coverings are required at all times during school, including sports games and sports practices. The PDE also states that face coverings during school and extra curriculars must continue to be worn until the state’s Secretary of Health decides it is no longer necessary.

Milton Superintendent Dr. Cathy Keegan said that the Attestation Form is the same for all districts that were required to sign it. She added that schools can’t have an Attestation Form that doesn’t commit to wearing masks for sports.

Although this form ensures safety, it has caused many problems for sports, said Milton Athletic Director Mr. Rod Harris. The form states that all athletes must wear masks during practices and games. Many schools were given the form, but not all schools within the state complied with signing it, he said. Mr. Harris added that a possible reason for schools choosing not to sign the Attestation Form is that they don’t agree with the regulations. The form wasn’t required, but if a school didn’t comply with signing it, the school could potentially lose state funding for that school district, said Mr. Harris.

“Your hand was almost forced as a district to sign,” he said.

Without an Attestation Form, athletes aren’t required to wear masks, which creates problems for schools who did sign the form, said Mr. Harris. Schools that signed the form have to wear masks and can’t play schools that didn’t sign the form and don’t have to wear masks. Schools that comply with the rules have to forfeit against non-mask wearers, said Mr. Harris. Milton is among many schools that couldn’t play another school because they don’t require their athletes to wear masks. This hurts Milton’s records and gives us a disadvantage, according to Mr. Harris.

The PIAA states that if a team is refusing to play in any way, whether it has to do with masks or not, the team must forfeit. Mr. Harris said that this rule is “backwards” and unfair.

“I don’t know why the team that’s following the rules would have to forfeit play,” he said.

Mr. Harris hopes that the PIAA changes this rule or the rule is at least relaxed thanks to vaccines and outdoor play. He would like to change the rule himself, but he’s not sure how.

“I mean, as a school district we signed the Attestation Form saying we are going to follow the governor’s mandates and guidelines and rules during the Covid pandemic, and that’s what we need to do,” said Mr. Harris.

On March 3 the PIAA released new guidelines that states spring athletes don’t have to wear masks while playing sports, as long as social distancing is possible. If six feet of distance isn’t possible, then athletes must keep their face coverings on. These new guidelines do apply to Milton, despite the Attestation Form according to the PIAA guidelines.