The following practice regulations are designed to help schools ensure the health and safety of the players and coaches involved in fall sports. These regulations supplement the existing Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association practice regulations and sports calendars in response to the Gov. Bill Lee's extension of Executive Order No. 38 and continued concern regarding the spread of COVID-19.
NONCONTACT SPORTS
Cross country, golf, volleyball
* Teams and players must follow local mandates and the rules of the facility regarding social distancing and cleaning protocols.
* Schools are expected to substantially maintain social distancing between players, coaches and spectators.
* If a local mandate is absent, schools are encouraged to adopt the Tennessee guidelines for noncontact sports.
CONTACT SPORTS
Players cannot participate in contested activities with other participants under the Governor's Executive Order (No. 50/38).
Girls' soccer
* Practice cannot include activities that result in sustained close proximity or physical contact between participants. Training or otherwise engaging in elements or aspects of the sport in a manner that do not involve close contact with other persons is allowed.
* Drills and simulations in which players are not engaged with an opponent are allowed. For these purposes, an opponent is anyone (teammate or coach) who is engaged with the player with sustained close proximity or physical contact.
* Scrimmages, and/or practicing with another team are not allowed under the Governor's Executive Order (No. 50/38).
Football
* Practice cannot include activities that result in sustained close proximity or physical contact between participants. Training or otherwise engaging in elements or aspects of the sport in a manner that do not involve close contact with other persons is allowed.
* A football player cannot practice in full pads until the five days of heat acclimatization has been completed. This heat acclimatization process can still begin July 20.
* Drills and simulations in which players are not engaged with an opponent are allowed. For these purposes, an opponent is anyone (teammate or coach) who is engaged with the player with sustained close proximity or physical contact, including contact with a blocking pad or other similar equipment being held by a coach or teammate.
* 7-on-7, scrimmages, and/or practicing with another team are not allowed under the Governor's Executive Order (No. 50/38).