Dear Bellmore-Merrick Families:
Now that we have received approval and guidance from our local elected officials, below is a brief explanation of what to expect for participation in “High Risk” High School winter sports and tryouts scheduled for next week.
On Monday, February 1st, our student-athletes will meet with their coaches to begin tryouts for Boys and Girls Basketball, Wrestling, Kickline and Cheerleading. We will not require Rank One Sports clearance prior to tryouts. However, we will require those student-athletes who make a team to complete a new “Sports Candidate Health History” form, as required by NYS, by Friday, February 5th. All winter student-athletes will receive notification and reminders about completing the required “Sports Candidate Health History” form from their coach during the first week of participation.
Since lockers will be unavailable, there will be designated drop off areas for athletic equipment bags at each high school. Student-athletes will be able to drop off their equipment in the morning upon arrival at school and pick it up before practice. However, there will be LIMITED locker room use (for changing purposes ONLY) for those sports who are scheduled for the earliest time slot, which immediately follows the end of the school day (2:30-4pm). All student-athletes scheduled for the later time slots are asked to report to their practices/competitions dressed in the appropriate athletic gear and prepared to participate without the need for locker room usage.
Please know that our primary focus will be to maintain the health and safety of our student-athletes and coaches. All tryouts will be conducted in accordance with guidelines and recommendations made by the NYSDOH and the Nassau County Health Department. Attendance will be taken daily for contact tracing purposes and all student-athletes will be required to show their self-assessment, NERIC app clearance screen on their smartphone device prior to entering all facilities. In addition, temperatures will be checked prior to participation and all guidelines regarding PPE, social distancing and hand sanitizing will be strictly adhered to as we work together to safely resume “High Risk” sports in BMCHSD.
In an effort to avoid loitering and unnecessary gatherings, we ask student-athletes to be mindful when arriving to and departing from practices and competitions. Coaches may utilize designated holding areas and/or ask student-athletes to remain in their vehicles until their scheduled start times for practices and competitions in order to limit close contact and maintain appropriate social distancing.
Lastly, in an effort to resume high risk sports as safely as possible, the Bellmore-Merrick CHSD has recently contracted with third-party health care providers in order to develop a plan which provides weekly on-site COVID19 testing for student-athletes and coaches of high risk sports by trained and certified medical practitioners. The Bellmore-Merrick CHSD feels that testing is a critical step in ensuring the resumption of high risk sports as safely as possible. Testing will be required for high risk sports participation and will begin on Saturday, February 6th, and be offered Wednesday’s from 5-7pm and Saturday’s from 11am-1pm at Brookside School. All paperwork, including appointments, will be done electronically. Further details regarding testing accommodations, requirements and schedules will be disseminated by the end of school business on Monday, February 1st.
Thank you for your continued patience as we attempt to resume “High Risk” sports as safely as possible. Should you have any further questions, please contact the appropriate building-level Athletic Coordinator.
Be safe, stay healthy and good luck to all. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Mr. Eric Caballero
Director of Physical Education, Athletics,
Drivers Education & Health
Bellmore-Merrick CHSD
1260 Meadowbrook Road
N. Merrick, NY 11566
516-992-1049