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PM school board approves recommendations for resuming sports

The Penn Manor school board has approved recommendations for safely allowing student athletes to resume participation in athletics for the 2020-2021 school year.

You can view the PMSD Return-to-Play Recommendations document here.

The plan will permit the resumption of practices and games/contests based on guidance from federal, state and local governments, the CDC, Pennsylvania Department of Health, the PIAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations. 

Before Penn Manor can resume any formal practices for fall sports, the coaching and athletic staff must complete training on how to screen athletes and staff for symptoms of COVID-19. Personal protective equipment, thermometers and cleaning supplies also must be available before formal practices may resume.

The athletic department expects to have the training completed and materials in place by early July, but no official start date for formal practices has been established at this time.

It also is unclear what athletic competitions will look like if/when they resume. That will depend on the type of sport and “Phase of Participation” designation for Lancaster County, as determined by the PIAA and state and local government officials.

Currently, Lancaster County is in “Phase 2 Yellow,” which prohibits gatherings of more than 25 individuals, including coaches, athletes and spectators, and permits only controlled, non-contact practices for all sports.

Exactly which sports Penn Manor will be permitted to resume in 2020-2021 will depend on the “Phase of Participation” designation for the county moving forward. If the county progresses from Phase 2 to Phase 3 or 4, fewer athletic restrictions would be in place.

Those details are spelled out in the Return-to-Play document. 

In the coming weeks, the coaching staff will keep athletes and parents informed of the status of practices and competitions. Questions about specific sports should be directed to coaches.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we work to assure that Penn Manor can resume its athletic programs as safely as possible.