Guidance on Participating in NMAA-Sanctioned Activities
Please note that this information is subject to possible changes and reschedules.
As the state expands in-person learning, it is important that students seeking to physically return to classrooms be provided with access to in-person learning prior to returning to sports and extracurricular activities.
Schools seeking to participate in NMAA-sanctioned activities must first transition to the hybrid model of instruction. A school will be considered to be in the hybrid model if all students seeking in-person learning are offered access to in-person learning at least two days each week for at least five hours and thirty minutes on each of those days, or a total of 11 hours per week, in addition to learning offered in the remote environment.
A school must be in session in the hybrid model for 14 days before commencing participation in NMAA activities.
Once a school has transitioned to the hybrid model, it will have a 14-day waiting period in which COVID-19 cases at the school will be monitored prior to beginning NMAA activities. If the school does not experience four or more rapid responses in the 14 day waiting period, it may commence participation in NMAA activities.
CCSD’s start and end dates
Start and end dates below include the state play-offs:
Fall Sports
- Cross Country: February 22, 2021 - March 27, 2021
- Football: February 22, 2021 - March 31, 2021
- Volleyball: February 22, 2021 - March 31, 2021
Winter Sports
- Basketball: March 22, 2021 - May 8, 2021
- Soccer: March 1, 2021 - April 10, 2021
- Swimming: March 22, 2021 - May 8, 2021
- Wrestling: March 29, 2021 - May 29, 2021
Spring Sports
- Baseball: April 5, 2021 - June 26, 2021
- Golf: April 5, 2021 - June 22, 2021
- Tennis: April 5, 2021 - June 19, 2021
- Track: April 5, 2021 - June 26, 2021
“Our students have been conditioning for months now, and now they are practicing to be ready for district games. It is something we have been waiting for and, although it is not yet ‘back to normal,’ I hope it is the way back to normal,” said Mark Archuleta, CCSD District Athletic Coordinator.
“Our students and families should know that we need to follow 100% of the COVID guidelines we’ve received from the state of New Mexico and the NMAA. Keeping our students healthy is the only way to continue their education and participation in a shortened season,” he continued.
COVID-Safe Practices for High School NMAA Sports & Activities
- Establish and continue communication with local and state authorities to determine current mitigation levels in your community. Check state and local health department notices daily about transmission in the area and adjust operations accordingly.
- New Mexico Public Education Department (NM PED) COVID-19 Safe Practices as outlined in the School Reentry Guidance must be followed during all activities on and off school campus.
- The safety of school staff and students must be the priority. If schools experience widespread COVID-19 outbreaks, NMAA activities will be halted until health conditions improve.
- Spectators are prohibited from practices and competitive play.
- Food concessions are prohibited.
- Masks are required for adults and students at all times.
- Overnight travel is prohibited.
- Consecutive-day competitions are prohibited.
- Limit competitions geographically (teams only compete with those in the same NMAA district).
- Prohibit congregation of players during warm-up, while at rest or hydration breaks, or when entering or leaving the practice site.
- Follow NM PED transportation guidance as per the School Reentry Guidance.
- Communal showers in locker rooms are prohibited. Where possible, have students change clothes at home. If this is not possible, have students change in private stalls or rooms, staggering the entry and exit of players to avoid student congregation.
- Conduct practices and competitive play outdoors when possible.
- Have adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors, including soap, hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol (for staff and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer), tissues, and no-touch trash cans.
- Post signs on how to stop the spread of COVID-19, properly wash hands, promote everyday protective measures, and properly wear a face covering. Intensify cleaning, disinfection, and ventilation.
- Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, using fans, or other methods according to NM PED COVID-19 Response Toolkit.
- COVID-19 testing is required for all coaches and staff following the NM PED COVID-19 Response Toolkit. One or more positive tests among players or coaches will result in a 14-day suspension of practices and competition.
- Conduct trainings for students regarding hygiene and safety protocols including proper hand washing, touching of face, covering mouth and nose when coughing/sneezing and social distancing.
- Stagger arrival and drop-off times and locations. Establish protocols to limit direct contact with parents as much as possible. Students waiting to be picked up must maintain 6 feet social distancing.
- Temperature checks of staff must be taken daily with a touchless thermometer. Daily temperature checks of students are recommended for students in accordance with the NM PED COVID-19 Response Toolkit. Individuals with elevated temperatures (above 100.4 F) or with COVID-19 related symptoms must stay home.
- Implement screenings safely, respectfully, as well as in accordance with any applicable privacy laws or regulations. Confidentiality should be maintained.
- Plan for when a staff or student becomes sick. Sick individuals may not return until they have met CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation.
- Students that become sick must be picked up immediately. For emergency situations, staff should call 911.
NMAA Media Guidelines During COVID-19
The following regulations apply to both regular season and NMAA championship contests. They also apply to all photographers / videographers approved for credentials, and those individuals representing the participating schools for non-commercial purposes.
1. USE OF ELECTRONIC FLASH/STROBES – Photographers MAY use electronic flash/strobe cameras during the progress of a sporting event as long as, in the opinion of the contest officials, the flash does not hinder the actions of or endanger the contestants. The final decision as it relates to electronic flash/strobe equipment rests with the judgment of the site management and contest officials when NMAA staff is not present at an event.
IMPORTANT -- When determining whether or not the use of electronic flash/strobe equipment represents a hindrance to an event, do not evaluate the situation while looking directly at the strobe, but rather by taking the view of the game participant or the official who is focusing on the action, not the strobe, and is not aware of when the strobe is about to go off. Strobes properly positioned DO NOT pose a threat to the conduct of most contests. If, after careful consideration, the strobe is determined to be a problem, game management should work with the photographer using the strobe to review the strobe’s placement, flash strength and direction. Sometimes, adjusting a strobe so that the flash bounces off the walls or ceilings will correct any potential problems.
- The only sports in which the use of electronic flash/strobe equipment is prohibited are: Spirit and Swimming & Diving.
- Requests to use strobe lights mounted to fixed positions shall be made well in advance of the contest.
- As a courtesy, contest managers or the NMAA should inform participating coaches and contest officials that photographers have been approved to use strobe lights in fixed positions.
- Strobes should be placed in corner or ceiling positions, and should never be placed in the direct line of a basket in basketball or focal point common to that sport.
- Camera-mounted strobes must always be positioned similarly as fixed strobes. A camera operator with an on-board strobe shall shoot outside the edges of the free throw lane in basketball, for example.
2. PHOTOGRAPHER PLACEMENT – Photographers for other sports shall be placed in positions in accordance with National Federation of State High School Associations National Rules. In the sport of football, for example, photographers shall be positioned behind the restraining line, which is two or more yards from the sidelines and end zones. In addition, photographers shall not be positioned in the team boxes between the 25-yard lines. Also, in the sports of Baseball and Softball, photographers are prohibited from being in live ball areas. If a designated media area is used, it shall be established before the game begins, shall be a lined area and shall be considered a dead ball area. In soccer, photographers should not be positioned within two yards of any sideline or endline. Some venues and events will have designated areas where photographers may shoot from. Game officials and host management have the authority to remove any member of the media for not staying in their designated area in any sport.
4.0 AUDIO SPECIFIC POLICIES – COMPLETE GAME ORIGINATION:
- Outlets desiring to originate broadcasts of individual games at the Basketball and Football Championships involving teams from their local market must broadcast regular-season games on a consistent basis in that market.
- Outlets are limited to the number of credentials they may receive; see section 1.0 for credential limits.
- Space permitting, outlets may set up at their broadcast location during the game preceding their broadcast, and may only occupy that position through the end of the session.
- If space restricts the number of originating outlets, event management must provide space for at least one outlet for each participating school, based on the input of the administration of each participating school.
- Radio stations will confine their remarks to an actual description of the games and the action in connection with them and that announcers will make no comments in regard to the judgment of game officials or coaches during any broadcast originating from the game/contest site. Violation of this clause will result in the station not being permitted to continue its broadcast.
These guidelines must be followed at all NMAA sanctioned events. Each school/facility has the authority to implement stricter guidelines when hosting regular season and/or state contests.
General Guidelines:
- Media personnel are required to wear face coverings/masks at all times (indoors or outdoors) and must practice social distancing. This includes play-by-play or broadcast personnel (tv and radio).
- Media access may be limited based on the host site’s “county color” as defined by the New Mexico Department of Health. The following protocols apply:
- Turquoise & Green Counties (Indoor & Outdoor Events)
- Access may be granted to all WORKING media
- Yellow Counties
- Outdoor Events
- Access may be granted to all WORKING media
- Indoor Events
- Video Streaming Personnel (one outlet designated by host school or NMAA)
- Local Print Media (maximum four individuals)
- One journalist and one photographer representing each school
- Radio (maximum one station per school; maximum two individuals per station)
- One play-by-play and one color per station
- Television News
- Limited access - may enter facility to obtain footage but cannot cover entire contest
- School Media Personnel (maximum two individuals)
- One individual from each school
- Must have an NMAA school media credential
- Red Counties (Indoor & Outdoor Events)
- Video Streaming Personnel (one outlet designated by host school or NMAA)
- Local Print Media (maximum four individuals)
- One journalist and one photographer representing each school
- Radio (maximum one station per school; maximum two individuals per station)
- One play-by-play and one color per station
- Television News
- Limited access - may enter facility to obtain footage but cannot cover entire contest
- School Media Personnel (maximum two individuals)
- One individual from each school
- Must have an NMAA school media credential
- **NOTE – WHEN MEDIA ACCESS IS LIMITED: For State Championship Events, the NMAA will work with the New Mexico Broadcasters Association and New Mexico Press Association to determine which outlets will be granted access per the above guidelines. For regular season events, the host school will make these determinations. Host school administration should work with visiting schools to determine which outlets should be able to cover the contest on behalf of the visiting school/community.
- Prior to the event, all media members should communicate with the host school administration to confirm attendance. When media access is limited, only those media members that have requested and been granted approval to cover the contest will be provided access to the facility.
- Before arriving at an NMAA sanctioned event (regular season or state), media members should check their temperature and conduct a COVID-19 symptom screening. If an individual’s temperature is at or above 100.4 degrees, has any additional symptoms of COVID-19, or has reason to believe they may have been exposed to COVID-19, the individual should not attend any NMAA event or any NMAA member school facility.
- **NOTE – The host school/facility may require additional COVID-19 screening prior to allowing access to the event.
- Upon arrival, all media members must check in with event staff (schools should keep a log of all media personnel granted access for contact tracing purposes). Individuals should have an NMAA Media Credential or other approved pass per the host school. For State Championship Events, access will only be granted to individuals with an NMAA Media Credential. When checking in, media members and event staff should communicate to ensure all facility guidelines are understood.
- Members of the media should keep a safe social distance from participants, team benches, coaches and spectators (minimum 6-feet).
- Press box access and seating for media will be limited. Host sites should provide space for media game coverage that takes into consideration social distancing and other guidelines and restrictions that may be in place. Please check with event staff upon arrival to confirm approved media locations.
- Post-event interviews must take place in designated areas only. Host sites should establish protocols and location for these interviews.
To view the NMAA 2020-2021 Guidelines for Participation,
click here.
To view the NMAA 2020-2021 Media Guidelines,
click here.