UPDATED SPECTATOR GUIDANCE 1/12/2021

COVID-19 Youth and Adult Sports under Executive Order 20-103 was updated and COVID-19 Sport Practice Guidance for Youth and Adult was released Monday, December 28, 2020 by the Minnesota Department of Health.

The new guidance allows the Minnesota State High School League to initiate a Board approved winter sports season model that includes the start of practice on January 4, 2021, and the start of competition on January 14, 2021.

Face coverings must be worn by all persons at all times. This includes both practices and games, with only a few exceptions.  Removing face coverings during activities that involve a high level of exertion is not permitted. The exceptions to the cloth face covering rule include:

Gymnastics and Cheerleading: Student-athletes may temporarily remove the cloth face covering during activities such as tumbling/stunting/flying or on certain apparatuses to avoid impairing vision, risk of choking or getting caught on the apparatuses. Student-athletes must wear face-coverings for all other practices and routines.

Swimming and Diving: Student-athletes should not wear a cloth face covering while they are in the water.

Wrestling: Student-athletes may remove their cloth face-covering when they have wrestling contact with another student-athlete.

The following requirements for practice have not changed:

•  - Pod size should not exceed 25. Pods consist of players, coaches, and managers.
• -Games, jamborees and scrimmages with other teams are not allowed.
• - The use of locker rooms and facility showers should be avoided.
• - Spectators are not allowed at practices. 

Competition start dates:

• Competition for MSHSL Winter Sports (Girls and Boys Alpine Skiing, Girls and boys Basketball, Dance, Girls and Boys Hockey, Girls and Boys Nordic Skiing, Wrestling, Boys Swimming and Diving may begin on Thursday, January 14, 2021. 
• Gymnastics may begin contests on Thursday, January 21, 2021. 
• Adapted Floor Hockey begins their practice season on Monday, January 4, 2021.

The schedules for all winter sports and activities have been rescheduled and there will continue to be some movement in individual sport.  Please be aware that spring break is the week of March 8 and games will be scheduled that week in many sports.

Thank you for you patience and understanding as we work through this latest adjustment to winter activities.

The winter season will follow new guidelines for returning to play after sitting out because they were diagnosed with COVID. 

Here is the Return to Play protocol that will be used for student-athletes after testing positive for COVID. This will be administered by Sara Rock our Athletic Trainer.

Woodbury Activities Department will follow Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Department of Education, Center for Disease Control and Minnesota State High School League guidelines for return to participation. 

Programs are will provide Preparedness Plans to families and participants one day prior to the start of the season via email and available by asking the Advisor/Coach/Director or Activities Office for a copy. 

Prior to coming to tryouts or practice, Parent(s)/Guardian(s) must complete a daily self-report conducted prior to each day's session.  screen their child.   

• temperature check (affirm they do not have a fever, of any temperature),

• respiratory check (affirm they do not have a new cough and no shortness of breath/difficulty breathing),

• exposure check (affirm they have not been in contact with a potential or diagnosed COVID-19 case), and

• other symptom check (affirm they don’t have any other undiagnosed COVID-19 symptoms;

  • MDH Decision Tree for People with COVID-19 Symptoms in Youth, Student, and Child Care Programs

CDC When to Quarantine

During the registration process all families must electronically sign off on three documents.

Minnesota State High School League Assumption of Risk 

 Please make sure your student has a current physical, which can be checked by going under the Health tab of your Parent Portal account.  Physicals are good for three years.  If you are looking for specific try out information, please look under the sports website for more detailed information.  

Physicals can be emailed, faxed, or brought into the Activities Office.  Please email to Kari Tschida at:

ktschid1@sowashco.org