
MTAAP Guidance for Adolescent Athletes and COVID-19
The Montana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Committee on Child Health and COVID-19 consulted with Montana Cardiologists as well as referencing current National Guidance from AAP and ACC to develop the following guidance on Adolescent Athletes diagnosed with COVID-19 and return to play:
The full Guidance can be found here.
CONTACT TRACING- Athletes who were contact traced, but never showed symptoms and were not told to be tested, do not need a note to return after 14 days as long as all Health Dept. policies were followed for quarantine and they continue to show zero symptoms at the end of the 14 days.
OUR USE OF COVID PROTOCOLS
Athletes are required to wear their masks on campus all the way up to active play and immediately after active play is complete. They check in at each practice, are screened for Covid symptoms, have their temperatures checked, are required to sanitize their hands and then they may prepare for practice. Volleyballs are disinfected after each practice in both gyms. Rags are thoroughly washed each weekend. The coaching staff provides prompts for use of sanitizer several times throughout practices and reminders not to touch faces or hands. Coaches/staff keep masks on throughout practices except when giving quick instruction from 6+ feet away.
Hypervigilance- Athletes need to assume that others do not understand the sport of volleyball. Though an athlete may be in the same cohort on the court with another athlete and so believe it is ok to chat together without masks on, that is not the case where the general public is concerned. Please encourage vigilance in following Covid guidelines!
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY'S MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
THAT DISCOMFORT YOU ARE FEELING IS GRIEF
https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief
COPING WITH ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION DURING THE PANDEMIC