Phase three brings practice and camps into reality for Virginia athletes
by Andy Hilton, recruit757
On Monday, VHSL Executive Director Billy Haun stated that they were waiting for Phase Three to be announced by Governor Ralph Northam.
“It’s important to note that if nothing changes between today and Thursday, definitive answers on fall sports will be determined later,” Haun said. “The governor’s ‘Return to School Plan’ outlines an action plan for Phase I, II, and III but has no specific guidelines for athletics and extracurricular activities.”
He went on to say that launching an athletic schedule for public schools would have to wait.
“At this point we have no idea when we will enter Phase III,” he continued. “It would not be reasonable to prepare a fall schedule for each sport and activity without knowing the parameters and possible restrictions.”
In a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Northam announced that Virginia would be in phase three on July 1. It look like practice is close to happening for high school programs, camps are close to happening for high school athletes, and it looks like a fall football schedule announcement might be imminent.
It should be noted that the VHSL’s three phase plan does NOT coincide with the governor’s three-phase schedule. The most recent VHSL plan is outlined here.
Unless the governor announces otherwise, the plan for having school districts or individual public and private schools submit plans to resume athletics and activities are still in place.
Publicly, Phase Three does allow for larger gatherings, which makes a traditional football camp more of a possibility without significant logistical restrictions.
Once Phase Three takes effect, gatherings of up to 250 people are allowed. Also, museums, zoos and other outdoor venues can open at 50% capacity with a cap of 1,000 people. Gyms and fitness centers can open at 75% capacity.
– Andy Hilton
