DOCTOR'S NOTE REQUIRED TO RETURN TO SPORTS AFTER COVID
Jan 11, 2021
The medical community continues to learn how COVID affects the body—especially how COVID affects student athletes who return to sports after having the disease. In rare cases, high school athletes have died during exertion from COVID-related heart issues. For this reason, Gateway will now require a doctor's note stating the student is safe to return to play.
Student athletes who test positive for COVID (or have COVID symptoms and are out for 10 days but choose not to get tested) need to have clearance from a physician, or a physician-approved delegate prior to returning to participation in UIL.
Please use this release form: COVID Return to Play Form
Please submit release forms to Kelly Miller.
If the doctor determines the case was mild, the athlete will return to practice and play once the quarantine has ended. In circumstances where the doctor feels that an athlete's case was moderate or severe, the athlete will follow a protocol to slowly wean back into full participation. This is similar to the concussion protocol, which slowly works the athlete back into full participation.
Students will not be eligible to participate in athletics after recovering from COVID until this doctor's release has been received by the athletic department.
For further information, please reach out to Coach Mark Eno, Athletic Director.
AAP.org Guidance on Return to Play: https://www.aap.org/en/pages/2019-novel-coronavirus-covid-19-infections/clinical-guidance/covid-19-interim-guidance-return-to-sports/
