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We get it. New national, state, and local guidelines land on your desk every day. Plus, you can't forget all those other issues. Coaches, communication, concussions, clearances, and compliance...  yeah, they'll all be issues again too.

Before you unlock the gates, be sure that you have the procedures in place to establish evidence-based records providing support for your reopening decisions. Create a plan that includes a centralized database of evidence to help confirm and justify decisions. Because as you know, every decision will be scrutinized and questioned.

Download and print our "Reopening Sports Checklist" to reduce your workload and close lurking loopholes. 

So, do you want to simplify your reopening plan? 

Did you know that you can automate, yes like “robot-style automate”, parts of your to-do list? Compliance with NFHS guidance can be easier than you think! Registration, attendance, screenings, reminders, certificates, rosters, inventory, and policies can flow through FinalForms to ensure compliance.

With or without FinalForms, this list can serve as your "Reopening Sports Checklist”. With FinalForms, you’ll just have a lot more time to spend with family and friends when sports start up.

1. Paperwork Management

Cover your tracks! As we mentioned, your decisions and actions are likely to come under scrutiny by parents, board members, or stakeholders this year. Create a paper trail that will help wash worries away.

• Physicals - Review and distribute special state requirements
• COVID-19 Waiver - Distribute required school policies or waivers. 

2. Staff Management

Communication is key. Connect with your coaches to ensure they understand new policies and requirements for reopening safely. Most importantly, empower your staff with tools that allow them to do what they do best, coach!

• Mobile Health Screening Tools - Provide staff with a mobile tool to take attendance, screen athletes, and create reports.
  
  
  • Read our blog article: How To Use Mobile Health Screening Tools in Your Reopening Plan
    
    
• Virtual Coach and Team Meetings - Conduct informational meetings with coaches and teams.
• Practice Sessions - Review national, state, and local guidance to enhance safety.        
• Coach Education - Review online certification and education options.

3. Sports Equipment Management

Reconditioning requirements may not have changed in your state. Your reconditioning resource may, or may not, be up and running. Establish a plan to ensure reconditioning requirements are met to keep equipment up to code.

• Equipment Reconditioning - Confirm that your reconditioning resources are up and running.

4. Health & Safety Equipment Management

Ordering medical equipment and sanitary items may be new to you and your team, but it's time to tackle the challenge. Connected with trusted colleagues or community members to identify potential sources of the following items. Shortages may occur as Fall approaches, so get on it!

• Infrared thermometers
• Tape or paint for marking safe spaces
• Hand sanitizer
• Sanitizing wipes
• Face masks

5. Event Management

If you’re going to keep ahead of controversy in your department, policies are a must. Keeping your staff, parents, and students informed of the latest substance, social media, conduct, hazing, harassment, and attendance policies can prevent hundreds of hours of headaches. 

• Decide who will be allowed to attend
  • Tier 1: Athletes, coaches, officials, event staff, medical staff, security.
  • Tier 2: Media.
  • Tier 3: Spectators, vendors.
• Review transportation options

6. Phase-by-Phase Guidance

Defining and understanding the phases as they apply to your school, local, and state statuses is a necessity. Work with your administration to establish procedures within each phase. Even more important, coordinate plans to make decisions concerning transitioning from one reopening phase to another, reversing direction, or declaring an outbreak.

• Pre-workout screenings
• Limitations on gatherings
• Facilities cleaning
• Physical activity and athletic equipment
• Hydration

7. Sport Risk Levels

It's time to get acquainted with NFHS guidance (as well as state or local recommendations) regarding the risk levels of each sport and activity. Our printable poster helps your visually identify the breakdown of sports by risk level.

• Low risk
• Moderate risk
• High risk

Creating a safe playing field for Fall Sports starts now. FinalForms is a resource and partner that can help you meet guidance and reduce risk.

The FinalForms team includes a dozen ADs and Coaches. We’ve been in your shoes and we understand the toughest and the most rewarding parts of the job. We’d like to help you with the tough stuff and make every day more rewarding.

One easy way to reduce your exposure to these risks is by using a system like FinalForms that enables you to achieve 100 percent form compliance, including COVID-19 waivers For more information on what you can do to protect your district against safety and legal issues in high school athletics, check out our other poster: Ultimate AD Checklist: Get Ready for Fall