What does Gov. Kelly’s masks order mean for Kansas sports? It’s somewhat unclear
The details are public now, but Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order requiring the wearing of masks has left the state’s sports enthusiasts, participants and officials in a state of confusion. Actually, a state of interpretation might be a better word for it.
Section 1, Article D of the Thursday order states:
“(Masks are to be worn w)hile outdoors in public spaces and unable to maintain a 6-foot distance between individuals (not including individuals who reside together) with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.”
But a few lines later in the order, in Section 3, Article G, this exception is noted:
“Athletes who are engaged in an organized sports activity that allows athletes to maintain a 6-foot distance from others with only infrequent or incidental moments of closer proximity.”
Some high school sports programs have opted to not require their athletes to wear masks while competing, citing that exception.
Almost all Kansas high school athletics programs started summer conditioning and workout practices June 1. Multiple positive COVID-19 tests soon followed at schools across the state, and some have suspended altogether their workouts because of potential exposure.
With cases spiking in Kansas, sports entities are uncertain how they should interpret the governor’s executive order, and what it means for participating athletes.
Several high school athletic directors were meeting with superintendents and local health officials about the order on Thursday and Friday. Mid America Youth Basketball (MAYB), an organization that dealt with multiple positive COVID-19 cases last week, is in contact with the Sedgwick County Commissioners Office about how to proceed, MAYB national director Greg Raleigh said.
Thursday afternoon, Raleigh said it seemed that MAYB players should not wear masks while playing, although the organization supports their use in general.
The City of Wichita splits its sports and recreation into youth and adult sports, said Troy Houtman, the city’s director of parks and recreation. Third-party organizations operate most of the city’s youth sports programs, such as Westurban Baseball and League 42. And those entities govern themselves, he said.
Golf courses have mostly implemented social distancing throughout the pandemic, Houtman said.
The biggest challenge, he said, is adult recreational softball.
“Playing with masks on is definitely an interesting concept, but it’s not unheard of and probably can still be accomplished,” he said. “Right now, we have some social distancing requirements. We have temperature checks and gathering spaces for the teams with hand sanitizer, too.
“We need a better understanding of the requirements. We need better clarification of how this is going to impact different activities, especially outdoor activities.”
In Wichita, those answers should come from the Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD), Houtman said. Thursday callers to the SCHD were directed back to the executive order for more specifics.
Houtman said he wrestles with a simple question each about sports during the pandemic:
Is the reward worth the risk?
“There is a pent-up demand and an expectation of having services out there, whether it’s golf or some other athletic sport,” Houtman said. “We are going to try to do it and try to make sure that everybody is safe. As we get more information, we will always re-evaluate and make the best choices.”
The City of Wichita does not hold jurisdiction over local high school sports teams. That governance falls upon the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA).
Thursday afternoon, KSHSAA posted the following:
“Based on Governor Kelly’s Executive Order 20-52 (released July 2, 2020), and unless specific guidance within your county indicates otherwise, masks or other face coverings should be worn by participants in any organized sports activity anytime participants are around others and unable to maintain 6-foot physical distancing.
“Per CDC guidelines, individuals who are engaged in high intensity activities, like running, may not be able to wear a mask or face covering if it causes difficulty breathing. Additionally, masks should not be worn during activities that cause the mask to become wet.
“The KSHSAA encourages coaches to consider alternative activities if adequate physical distancing cannot be maintained in the absence of the participant wearing a mask. All non-participants in workout activities such as coaches, staff and non-participating students should wear a mask or face covering at all times when around others and 6-foot physical distancing cannot be maintained.”
KSHSAA assistant director Mark Lentz, who oversees football in the state, said the NFHS has approved an adapted football visor that covers a player’s eyes and mouth. Whether any players will wear such a mask remains to be seen.
“I think each sport is going to have to determine whether masks are possible for themselves,” Dr. Garold Minns, Sedgwick County’s health officer, said Wednesday. “The athletes might think it’s uncomfortable and a pain, and maybe when they’re really running hard, it makes it a little harder to breathe.
“But I guess you have to ask, ‘What’s the risk-benefit ratio here? How much is it compromising me?’ I think it depends on the activity.”
This story was originally published July 2, 2020 at 4:22 PM with the headline "What does Gov. Kelly’s masks order mean for Kansas sports? It’s somewhat unclear."