JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Glynn Academy will stop football workouts until early next month after one of its players tested positive for COVID-19.
Coach Rocky Hidalgo said in a series of tweets late Sunday night that the program would suspend workouts until July 6 following the Georgia High School Association-mandated dead period. The suspension only applies to football athletes at Glynn Academy and not other sports there or at neighboring Brunswick High, said Glynn County Schools district athletic director Steve Waters.
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“In an attempt to be proactive against the spread of Covid19 in our community, the Glynn Academy Red Terrors’ football program is suspending workouts until July 6. This is in response to one of our players testing positive Sunday for Covid19,” Hidalgo said.
In an attempt to be proactive against the spread of Covid19 in our community, the Glynn Academy Red Terrors' football program is suspending workouts until July 6. This is in response to one of our players testing positive Sunday for Covid19.
— Rocky Hidalgo (@CoachRock73) June 22, 2020
The GHSA allowed schools to return to workouts on June 8 and implemented a dead week of no activity from June 28 to July 4.
Waters said that the district acted swiftly and preferred to shut things down as positive COVID-19 tests increased in the area. There have been 305 positive tests in Glynn County. Less than a month ago, Glynn reached 101 confirmed cases of COVID-19 (on May 27).
“I am very thankful to have such a great Sports Medicine Team lead by Dr. Beau Sasser. Our school system is very fortunate to have excellent Certified Athletic Trainers and a Team Physician that work day in and day out with our coaches,” Waters said. “From the time Coach Hidalgo received word of a positive case, he notified me along with our Sports Medicine Team. Our protocols were implemented immediately and our coaches along with our Sports Medicine team did a great job of communicating and taking the proper pre-cautions. After discussion, the decision was made to shut down all football operations until July 6th.
“With the cases in our community rising, we just did not feel like the risk was worth it especially in June when we are still seven weeks away from the season beginning. Our coaches and our administration always put the safety of our student athletes above everything and I appreciate the great teamwork between the Glynn Academy Coaches and our Sports Medicine Team.”
The National Federation of State High School Associations detailed numerous safety precautions that programs could use to help prevent COVID-19.
In the area, Bradford, Nassau and Union counties returned to workouts on June 1. Alachua allowed students to return on June 8. Putnam had a June 11 return. Baker, Clay, Columbia, Duval and St. Johns counties resumed workouts June 15. Flagler County starts back today.