Full-Contact Sports Practices Can Begin Soon In Ohio

COLUMBUS, OH — Full-contact practices and scrimmages for high school sports can start June 22, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced.

"Football, lacrosse and other contact sports can resume scrimmages and full training regiments as long as safety protocols are observed. The start date for Phase 2 will start next week, June 22nd," Husted said.

While contact practice can begin June 22, local school systems can determine when and how scrimmages can resume. Training guidance on how full-contact practices can resume will be shared through Ohio's coronavirus website.

New rules include mandatory daily health assessments of players and coaches, to see if anyone has any symptoms of sickness. Athletic trainers must wear face coverings when attending to injured players.

Spectators at scrimmages or other practices must sit 6-feet apart, are subject to daily health assessments, and there can be no group meetings or hangouts before or after the practice.

Other recommended best practices can be found on the state's website.

This is Phase II of the state's plan to reopen businesses and other organizations around Ohio. The Ohio High School Athletic Association and the summer league work group collaborated with the Ohio Department of Health on a plan to safely resume full-contact practices.