These Alabama high school sports teams reported over 20 COVID-19 cases since June
Local Alabama High School Athletics Association sports teams reported two dozen positive COVID-19 cases since high school sports practices were allowed to begin in the state in early June.
The AHSAA does not track positive cases like the Georgia High School Association does, nor does it ask schools to report positive cases to the state’s high school sports governing body. The school districts of Russell County, Phenix City and Lee County provided COVID-19 case counts to the Ledger-Enquirer.
Five athletes within Phenix City Schools, which includes Central High, indicated that they either tested positive or been in close contact with someone who tested positive, according to PCS Superintendent Randy Wilkes. None of those cases have been traced back to PCS-related activities, Wilkes said.
No coaches in PCS have reported testing positive or being around a person who tested positive.
Four football players have tested positive for COVID-19 at Russell County High. Two coaches have also tested positive since practices began, according to Russell County School District Superintendent Brenda Coley.
Smiths Station High has reported 15 positive COVID-19 cases since practice began. Four football coaches have tested positive for the virus, according to Smiths Station Principal Brad Cook. One player has reported as testing positive.
Additionally, two volleyball coaches, two cross-country athletes and six band students at Smiths Station have tested positive for the virus.
Alabama schools were cleared to begin workouts June 1. Multiple sports teams can use the same location and facility simultaneously if physical distancing is practiced and groups/teams do not interchange, according to the guidelines provided by the AHSAA.
The AHSAA plans on having a full fall sports schedule, according to Montgomery TV station WSFA.
AHSAA has also implemented several rule changes for the 2020 football season, including only one captain from each team present at the coin toss, extended players boxes to allow for more social distancing on the sidelines and longer timeouts (a maximum of two minutes).
