UIL recommending schools suspend summer workouts in anticipation of July 4th weekend
In anticipation of increased social interactions during the 4th of July holiday, the University Interscholastic League recommended on Wednesday that Texas high schools should suspend summer strength and conditioning and skill workouts from July 3-12 to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“For schools in areas experiencing community spread of COVID-19, this temporary suspension will reduce risk of exposure and provide an opportunity to review current plans and re-evaluate local context in order to make informed decisions moving forward,” the UIL said in a statement.
“UIL will continue to work with state officials and monitor CDC and other federal guidance to determine any potential modifications to UIL summer guidelines.”
On Wednesday, Tarrant County reported a single-day record for new coronavirus cases with 606 and three deaths, increasing its total to 12,950 total COVID-19 cases and 231 deaths with at least 5,323 recoveries.
On Tuesday, Dallas County reported a single-day record for the fifth consecutive day with 601 new coronavirus cases and a record 20 deaths, increasing its total to 21,338 cases and 373 deaths.
Overall, 8,076 new cases were reported on Wednesday statewide.
“Please be smart next week. Our goal is to have sports in August,” said Burleson ISD athletic director Kevin Ozee on Twitter.
Spring activities were suspended on March 13 and later canceled on April 17.
The UIL began summer workouts on June 8 after a three-month layoff from COVID-19.
One day later on June 9, the UIL loosened restrictions that included increased group sizes (outdoors from 15 to 25 and indoors from 10 to 15) and moving indoor capacity to 50%, which started on June 22.
Important summer workout dates posted on the UIL website included no activity on July 3, 7, 8, 20 and 21.
More than 200 schools in Texas have shut down or delayed its workout program at some point during the first month, including Burleson, Arlington Martin, Southlake Carroll, Frisco Lebanon Trail, Braswell and Plano.
Denton Ryan is one area school that has pushed back the start of its summer to July 13.
Fort Worth area schools during the first month of workouts
Aledo: No workout July 3-12; No cases
Arlington ISD: One case at Arlington, Bowie and Martin. All indoor workouts across the district shut down until July 13
Burleson: No workout July 3-12; One case
Burleson Centennial: No workout July 3-12; One case
Byron Nelson: One case (girls basketball), workouts resume July 13; All other sports to continue
Cleburne: One female case, all female workouts to resume July 13
Crowley: No workouts until further notice
Eaton: No cases; workouts to resume
Everman: No workouts until further notice
Fort Worth ISD: No workouts until July 13; No cases
Granbury: No workouts June 29-July 3; No cases
Joshua: One positive case July 1; No workouts July 3-12
Justin Northwest: No cases; workouts to resume
Keller ISD: No workouts July 3-12
Kennedale: No workouts June 29-July 3, July 7-8; No cases
Mansfield ISD: No workouts July 3-12
North Crowley: No workouts until further notice
Southlake Carroll: Three cases; outdoor workouts to continue
This story was originally published July 1, 2020 at 7:23 PM.
