“Lincoln Trail Health Department has initiated contact tracing of each of the seven cases and as a result of our protocols and procedures no other student-athletes in those perspective sports have had to isolate or quarantine as a result of the cases. In all cases, the Lincoln Trail Health Department has indicated through contact tracing that all cases were related to community spread.”

The Kentucky Football Coaches Association put out a COVID response and mitigation data graphic 10 days ago that showed 190 school reporting and 10,962 athletes were tested and 96 came back positive (0.875 percent) and 1,760 staff and support staff were tested and 17 came back positive (0.965 percent) and zero cases were traced back to football workouts.

The KHSAA reintroduced sports back into the high schools in three segments beginning on June 1, in two week intervals.

The third segment began June 29 and was in place until Monday.

Administrators, coaches, staff, trainers and athletes were to follow strict protocol guidelines in order to keep the sports train running.

“As a district, our athletic coaches have followed all protocols and procedures recommended by KHSAA and the governor under the guidance for youth sports and athletic activities,” Lawson said. “We have divided our student athletes into pods of 10 or less and used staggered practice times to ensure as limited of contact as possible.”

In order for athletic teams to stay within protocol and guidelines, coaches and there staffs were pretty creative in dealing with large numbers, whether it was a football team or a soccer team with 40-plus members.

“Our teams with larger student participation, such as football, have staggered entry times into our facilities and conditioned on opposite ends of the field to limit contact between pods,” Lawson said last week before the governor allowed high school fall sports to continue. “Volleyball, for example, has limited their pods to as few as 5to 6 student athletes and practiced in hour segments to insure limited contact.

“Carol George and our athletic trainers have done a tremendous job with the screening process of our athletes and continued monitoring of our safety procedures. Screening procedures include the use of a Google form for individual players to screen for temperature as well as symptoms related to COVID-19.”

Cross country, soccer and volleyball begin competition on Sept. 7 and football Sept. 11. Soccer is allowed 14 matches, volleyball 24 and football nine games.

The KHSAA is in the process of finalizing fan attendance plans for cross country, football, soccer and volleyball

Golf was never interrupted, but cross country, football, soccer and volleyball were given the OK to return to full practice last Thursday by the KHSAA Board of Control.

Gov. Andy Beshear did not stand in the way of that decision last Monday and the Kentucky Department of Education is slated to meet today at noon to discuss high school fall sports.

“I want to correct some misinformation that is being spread across social media and news outlets,” Interim Commissioner Kevin C. Brown said in a statement released Thursday. “The Kentucky Board of Education will not be considering canceling sports seasons at its special meeting Aug. 28. There is a narrowly tailored agenda that includes a report from KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett about the status of fall sports, a report and discussion from Department for Public Health Commissioner Steven Stack, concerns from superintendents and possibly authorizing a letter from the board to the KHSAA Board of Control voicing concerns about high-contact fall sports.

“The KHSAA is the designated agent of the KBE and its authority will be respected, yet the board still has a moral obligation to review matters that could affect the health and safety of students. This is why I recommended the meeting take place. To do otherwise would place the KBE members in a position of ignoring their obligation to oversee the ‘management and control of the common schools and all programs operated in these schools.’”

LaRue County Athletic Director David Dawson said last week the Hawks have had no positive cases.