Hope Public Schools Co-Athletic Director Phillip Turner, left, scans the temperature of a student athlete at the Bobcat Clinic on the Hope High School campus as student athletes reported for physical examinations last week. HPS athletes will not begin off-season workouts until July 6, in keeping with Arkansas Athletics Association guidance. – Ken McLemore/Hope Public Schools

Ken MClemore

HOPE – The return of athletics programs off-season preparations will be a measured process for the Hope Public Schools.

Co-athletic Directors Phillip Turner and Susan Powers have determined to re-open athletics in keeping with guidance offered by the Arkansas Athletics Association in consultation with HPS Superintendent Dr. Bobby Hart.

“Hope athletics teams will be allowed to resume workouts on July 6 in grades 8th through 12th with very strict guidelines,” a guidance letter from Turner, Powers and Hart states. “Although we will be moving forward with scheduling workouts, please keep your family’s unique health situation as the priority during this time of transition.”

Turner said athletics physicals for students in grades seven through 12 have been scheduled at the Bobcat Clinic on the Hope High School campus, and were to conclude by June 22.

Workout schedules under the guidance issued in the June 16 letter to parents shows varsity football will be on campus from 8-9 a.m. and junior high football will work out from 10 – 11 a.m.

“Times will change as we go,” the letter states.

The letter outlines six areas of guidance:

Athletics physicals:

--Student athletics physicals are valid for up to 15 months, and must be determined accordingly.

--The Bobcat Clinic will continue to offer appointments for athletics physicals, which must be arranged and attended by a parent.

Required daily screening:

--All coaches and student athletes will have temperature screenings prior to entry into HPS athletics facilities.

--There will be ONE entry and exit point; and, high school athletes should be dropped off and picked up in front of the HHS gym entrance in the campus bus drive.

--All coaches and athletes who answer “yes” to any question on the screening form at the facility entrance will be excluded from practice.

Face coverings/masks:

--All athletes and coaches will be required to wear a mask when entering any athletics facility or workout.

--A mask will be given to every athlete upon entry into a facility or workout.

--Each athlete’s mask will be labeled with their name; and, masks will be collected at the end of workouts to be washed for distribution the next day.

Workout gear:

--All athletes must wear his/her own workout gear to and from each workout.

--No laundry will be available at the school.

--No athletes will be allowed into the locker room to store items.

Water bottles:

--Each athlete is required to furnish his/her own filled water bottle; preferably, a one-gallon bottle which can be purchased at Walmart and labeled with the athlete’s name.

Acclimation period: Individualized acclimation will be in effect when each athlete reports to a workout as follows…

--Days 1-2: One session per day; maximum one hour in length.

--Days 3-5: One session per day; maximum 1.5 hours in length.

--Days 6-10: One session per day; maximum two hours in length.

--Days 11-13: One session per day; maximum 2.5 hours in length.

--Days 14-15: One session per day; maximum three hours in length.