Barring a change of schedule, the first Georgia High School Association athletic events of the 2020-21 academic year will occur on the softball field - and with quite a few safety guidelines in place.
The GHSA has released a series of guidelines fast-pitch softball programs will have to embrace this season in response to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the Peach State. The guidelines (a full list is at GHSA.net) state how and when game balls are to be replaced and cleaned, how physical distancing should be practiced on the field and in the dugout, that on-field celebrations are eliminated and that public concession stands are prohibited
With the start of official practices set for Aug. 1 and the first contests just five days later, it's a lot for programs to come to grips with in such a short time.
"Some of them are not mandated, but some are," Gordon Lee coach Dana Mull, whose program has won five straight state championships, said of the guidelines. "It could be worse. Obviously, you want to play. I'm just ready for things to get back to normal. Most of these kids just want to play ball like they always have. Mentally, emotionally, everything - it takes a toll not doing what is normal to them."
Among the recommendations are the wearing of cloth face masks (they must be of a single color, without lettering) and that umpires wear facial shields and sanitation gloves.
Area coaches said some of the mandates will be simple to follow, such as sanitizing player and team equipment before and after each game and practice, making hand sanitizer readily available and making it the defensive team's responsibility to retrieve all foul balls.
Somewhat more difficult will be controlling players and coaches' emotions. Players will not be allowed to exit the dugout to congratulate a teammate, and coaches must follow the 6-foot physical distancing rule if they want to discuss an umpire's ruling.
"I sent the guidelines to our players as soon as I received them, and the first thing they asked was how do I argue a call?" Heritage coach Tanner Moore said, laughing. "I told them I guess I might have to raise my voice in order for them to hear me."
Moore, whose team has won back-to-back Class AAAA titles, is much more concerned about keeping his players safe, especially after coaching in a couple of summer tournaments.
"These girls are playing a lot right now, and some of these tournaments I have witnessed firsthand and it's scary," Moore said. "The guidelines in place are not being followed, especially with spectators. It's sad, but the reality is people are going to do what they want to do, and who is going to make sure it's safe?
"I'm not going to put my girls in compromising situations right now by practicing. We're working out and getting them in shape, but it's not worth it. I just want to make sure we're ready to go, but from a personal standpoint I'm nervous for them."
The physical distancing requirements extend to the dugouts, where players, coaches and support staff must be 6 feet apart. The GHSA mandate states teams "may extend the dugout into a clearly marked out of play area."
Teams with large rosters, such as Gordon Lee and Heritage, will have to make choices on whether to carry fewer players or force some to sit on the field, outside the fence or in the stands.
"I'm so mixed on it," Mull said. "That takes the team part out of it. They want to cheer on their teammates and be a part of a team. Finding a place for them all is the hardest part. In our park that would be out on the field or in the front row of the stands."
Placing them outside the actual dugout also, in Moore's mind, increases the chances of coming in contact with someone who has the coronavirus.
"Some may enforce it, some may not," he said. "If you have to extend the dugout, where to? If it's behind the fence, how can I keep my players away from spectators? Do we rope off a section? Who manages that? Is it the umpire or a school game manager? These are major concerns and, hopefully, we can get some more information in the next two weeks."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.