GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Grand Rapids Public Schools announced Saturday morning that they are resuming all fall sports, effective immediately.
Superintendent Leadriane Roby made the announcement at 10 a.m. Saturday.
Kurt Johnson, executive director of K-12 athletics for the district, said the decision was made "with feedback and support from parents, students, coaches and Board of Education members."
He provided the following details:
"Football, volleyball, boys’ soccer, girl’s swimming/diving, cross country, tennis and golf will all resume with strict protocol guidelines that coaches, students, and parents will be required to follow.
We will be following all guidelines set forth by the Governor's Office and MHSAA which now includes the wearing of face masks during competitions where 6 feet of social distancing cannot be maintained. While there are ongoing conversations regarding who should have to wear masks during actual competitions, we will follow the law as currently order. The expectation is that all coaches will comply with the law.
We will continue with daily pre-screening protocols and reporting (started summer 2020).
We will continue to follow all health and safety routines established for practices (summer 2020).
We will be following all additional guidelines with OK conference member schools that are also re-engaging in fall sports.
We will be maintaining and improving (if needed) current practices around health and safety protocols that are in use.
We will be ensuring competition facilities meet or exceed health and safety guidelines.
We will make certain (to the degree possible) visiting teams are following all protocols prior to arriving at our facilities and while at our facilities (providing visiting teams and spectators expectation standards prior to arrival).
We will be implementing a signage campaign that indicates our expectations for all attendees.
We will ensure all transportation guidelines are strictly followed to and from away events.
We will be limiting spectators to "Parents/Guardians Only" for all home events (up to 2 parents and/or legal guardians which includes visiting teams as our home spectator standard).
There will be no admission cost for parents for fall sports.
No concessions will be available at this time."
Johnson also said that the following outstanding items remain to be answered by GRPS:
"Which Michigan or OK Conference schools will be resuming fall sports?
What changes in conference, division and/or regions will be made for tournaments and invitationals?
What changes to competition schedules will be made?
What additional rules will be implemented?"
