“Kids will practice when they’re sick, they won’t tell you,” Strickland said. “They don’t want to miss practice, they want to play.”

The protocols follow recommendations from the University of Wisconsin. A report from the university in the spring found many former athletes who had their seasons canceled earlier this year — due to the pandemic — suffered from moderate to severe depression. ASAA does not want that to happen in Alaska.

“Activities are a huge motivator for kids, I think they get a lot of self-esteem,” Strickland said.