Tag: Arkansas Activities Association

AAA releases COVID-19 basketball guidelines

2020-21 Arkansas Activities Association COVID-19 Basketball Guidelines 

In accordance with the Directives Regarding Large Outdoor Venues/Large Indoor Venue Plans for School Sponsored Team Sports, all athletic events must follow the requirements linked below.

DIRECTIVES FOR LARGE OUTDOOR/INDOOR VENUE PLANS

Facility Modifications

  • Family groups must be spaced 6 feet apart. 
  • Have a separate entrance and exit point for facilities to avoid congestion and aid in social distancing.
  • Create and display COVID-19 information signage throughout the venue.
  • Use tape, paint, and signage within the bleachers and around the facility to mark areas where spectators may gather to maintain social distancing. Specify where spectators and participants may sit.
  • Everyone inside the facility is required to wear a mask at all times, except players that are actively participating. 
  • Appropriate social distancing must be maintained on sidelines and benches during contests and events. Bench personnel must sit with a minimum distance of 6 feet apart and must be separated from the audience by a minimum of 12 feet. 
  • Appropriate locker room space should be provided to officials for social distancing (i.e. larger room or separate rooms). The space(s) must be sanitized prior to arrival.
  • Each player should use their own towel and water bottle to avoid sharing.

Modifications to Regular Season 

  • BENEFIT GAMES – will only be allowed between two teams. 
  • NO MULTI SCHOOL EVENTS IN OR OUT OF STATE – such as tournaments, classics, showcases, etc. This does not preclude two schools junior and senior high teams participating at a venue. 
  • NUMBER OF COMPETITIVE EVENTS:
    • Non Football schools are allowed:
      • 34 high school varsity games 
      • 28 junior high school varsity games
    • Football schools are allowed
      • 26 high school varsity games
      • 24 junior high school varsity games
  • Junior varsity limitations remain the same as listed in the 2020-2021 AAA Handbook for high school and junior high school (except no tournament)
  • Save the last week before the regional tournament for 1A-4A schools and the last week before the state tournament for 5A-6A schools for a conference tournament if needed. 

Return to Competition

  1. Basketball Rules Considerations
  • Pregame Protocol (2019-2021 NFHS Officials Manual, page 16, 1.8
    • Limit attendees to the referee and the head coach from each team with each coach standing on the center circle on each side of the division line.
  • All individuals maintain a social distance of 6 feet or greater at the center circle.
  • Suspend handshakes prior to and following the Pregame Conference.
  • Team Benches (1-13-1) Includes: Coaches, players, and managers
    • Social distancing should be practiced when possible. Below are some suggestions.
      • Limit the number of bench personnel to observe social distancing of 6 feet or greater.  
      • Consider limiting game rosters to 15 students.
      • Additional chairs or rows may be added to allow bench personnel to observe social distancing of 6 feet or greater. 
      • Create separation by a minimum of 12 feet between the team bench and spectator seating behind the bench.
      • Limit contact between players when substituting.
      • Personnel not in the game shall wear face coverings. 
  • Officials Table (2-1-3)
    • The host should sanitize the table before the game and at half time.
    • Place officials table sufficiently away from the sideline to allow for additional space for substitutes.
    • Limit seats at the table to essential personnel which includes home team scorer and timer with a recommended distance of 6 feet or greater between individuals. Other personnel (visiting scorer, statisticians, media, etc.) may not be deemed essential personnel and consider an alternate location for them.  
    • Table personnel shall wear face covering.
  1. Pre- and Post-Game Ceremony
  • Suspend the pregame introduction handshakes.
  • Suspend post game protocol of shaking hands. 
  1. Basketball Rules Interpretations
  • Equipment and Accessories
    • Sanitizer should be provided by the host team at the table.
    • Cloth face coverings are permissible for players.
  • Officials Uniform and Equipment
    • Long-sleeved shirts are permissible. 
    • Officials should not be required to wear jackets during pregame court/player observation.
    • Electronic whistles are permissible (supplies are limited). 
      • Choose a whistle whose tone will carry inside.
      • Check the market for choices                              
    • Cloth face coverings are permissible.
    • Gloves are permissible.
  1.  Other Considerations
  • Throw-in
  • Officials may stand 6 feet or greater away from a player making the throw-in and bounce the ball to that player on a front court throw-in.
  • Free Throw Administration 
  • The lead official shall stand on the end line and bounce the ball to the free thrower.

Time Out

Coaches should limit the number of individuals in huddles during time outs.

Heber Springs starts season 2-0

Heber Springs’ Cristina Garcia fights for the ball with the Southside Batesville goalie. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

March 5, 2020

Lyon College signee Taylor Hammons finished with a hat trick as Heber Springs improved to 2-0 on the young season with a 6-nil victory over Southside Batesville at Panther Stadium.

Hammons scored all of her goals in the first half, as Heber Springs built up a 6-nil lead at the break and cruised to a mercy-rule win, which included a shortened second-half clock.

“I didn’t even notice it a first,” Heber Springs coach Drew Lawrence said. “I went ‘wow, Taylor’s got three.’ She’s the type that you give her the ball around the net and it will usually find a way.”

Heber Springs senior Jillian Herring looks to go on the offensive against the Southerners. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

The Panthers stayed on the offensive throughout most of the contest with McKenzie Beccera, Jillian Herring and Abbi Dew all adding goals. While Becerra assisted on two goals and Selena Childress on another.

“McKenzie had two assists … and half of those were assisted,” Lawrence said. “It’s really good that we scored six goals but to have at least half of that were assisted, that’s really big. We not only have girls that can go out there and get goals on their own like Jillian and Libby did tonight, but we are also able to use the team and score that way as well.”

Heber Springs opened it’s season with a 4-1 victory over 5A Vilonia on Tuesday.

“That’s really big,” Lawrence said of the win. “I know Vilonia beat us 4-0 last year. They are a bigger school and we are a newer soccer program, so to go on the road, it was nice to really put it on them. We got big contributions from everyone involved. “

Stutts finished with two goals against Vilonia while Hammons and Herring each put one in the back of the net.

Those three seniors are among a core group that are poised for a big season.

Heber Springs senior Abbi Dew gets a kick off against Southside Batesville. PHILIP SEATON PHOTO

“It really helps that nine out of our 11 starters are seniors,” Lawrence said. “It makes us really excited for this year.”

With 31 players out for the team, Lawrence is also excited about the future of the program.

“Most people would get kind off worried for the next couple of years,” he said, “but I think are first five off our bench are freshmen or sophomores. We are really excited about this year, not only because the strong senior group, but because we arealso going to keep working in those freshmen, keep on working in those sophomores, and keep on building this program.”

Heber Springs also picked up an Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) Benefit Match win on February 24 at Panther Stadium with a 5-3 decision over Harding Academy.

The Panthers led 5-nil at the break and played back-ups the second half.

Benefit matches played before the first official start date by the AAA for soccer of March 2 do not count in the official record.

HEBER SPRINGS GIRLS SOCCER
COACH DREW LAWRENCE
OVERALL RECORD: 2-0
4A-NORTH CONFERENCE RECORD: 0-0
February 24  Heber Springs 5, Harding Academy 3 $
March 3      Heber Springs 4, Vilonia 1
March 5      Heber Springs 6, Southside Batesville 0
March 9      at Morrilton               7 p.m.
March 10     Conway St. Joseph          7 p.m.
March 13     Greenbrier                 7 p.m.
March 19     at Cave City               7 p.m.
March 31     at Mountain View           7 p.m.
April 2      at Wynne *                 7 p.m.
April 6      Jonesboro Westside *       7 p.m.
April 9      at Brookland *             7 p.m.
April 13     Valley View *              7 p.m.
April 18     Southside Batesville Tournament
April 20     at Southside Batesville *  7 p.m.
April 23     at Lonoke *                7 p.m.
April 28     Batesville *               7 p.m.

(* - Denotes 4A-North conference contest.)
($ - Denotes Arkansas Activities Association Benefit Match. The match does not count on the official record.)

Heber Springs, Vilonia to Scrimmage

August 25, 2019

Heber Springs and Vilonia will meet on Tuesday (August 27) for a pair of Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) benefit games at Phillip Weaver Stadium in Vilonia.

The junior high teams from both schools will kick things off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the senior high teams at 7 p.m. Gates open at 4:45 p.m. and the cost of admission is $4.

Only AAA passes can be used for benefit games.