Should we sign a waiver presented by the school? COVID waiver

[Csny4772]

What is the general consensus on this?  Have any states discussed this with officials?  In PA the schools are asking for waivers to be signed.  The message is if you don't want to sign don't accept the game.  Shouldn't officials be sticking together on this?

[JasonTX]

What is the waiver for?  To not hold them accountable for a choice I made?  Of course I'd sign it.  It wouldn't be their fault if you caught a virus.  It would be different if you were being forced to go there.

[Etref]

It would depend on wording .

What is being waived?

[bbeagle]

What is the general consensus on this?  Have any states discussed this with officials?  In PA the schools are asking for waivers to be signed.  The message is if you don't want to sign don't accept the game.  Shouldn't officials be sticking together on this?

Maybe some schools aren't testing their students/players. Or ignoring if their kids test positive for covid. So it would be more likely that we got it.

On a related note, shouldn't officials be tested like once every 2 weeks or so? Why aren't the schools making that mandatory? In my state, hair salon employees, day care workers and retirement home employees are all employees that need to be tested every 2 weeks.

[AlUpstateNY]

As unfortunately, usual, the "devil is in the details" and although the decision would be entirely an individual one, group assessment and guidance may prove to be extremely beneficial and helpful in accurately determining the level of risk (and consequence) the "waiver" is releasing the school's (leagues) from.

Group support and guidance may prove to be an effective resource to limit, or better establish, the details regarding the extent of liabilities being waived. 

[JasonTX]

Maybe some schools aren't testing their students/players. Or ignoring if their kids test positive for covid. So it would be more likely that we got it.

On a related note, shouldn't officials be tested like once every 2 weeks or so? Why aren't the schools making that mandatory? In my state, hair salon employees, day care workers and retirement home employees are all employees that need to be tested every 2 weeks.

The problem is the test doesn't make you immune from getting the virus 5 minutes after walking out from the clinic.  A lot can happen in 2 weeks.  You'd need a device like a diabetic person has and prick your finger several times a day to make sure you don't have it.  A lot of people get that test and they do think they are safe after getting the negative result.

[HLinNC]

I'd have to see the specifics of the waiver but generally, sure.  (Not signing some all encompassing waiver- i.e. light standard falls and hits me in the head, faulty boiler explodes in the locker room, no security personnel assigned to escort us, etc- I'm not waiving their gross negligence.)

No matter though.  Our governor extended Phase II conditions for 5 more weeks which will overshoot our fall sports "start" date of 9/1.  NCHSAA board now trudges back to the drawing board.

[bbeagle]

The problem is the test doesn't make you immune from getting the virus 5 minutes after walking out from the clinic.  A lot can happen in 2 weeks.  You'd need a device like a diabetic person has and prick your finger several times a day to make sure you don't have it.  A lot of people get that test and they do think they are safe after getting the negative result.

The test is at least a start and better than nothing.

If someone tests, say on August 1 and gets a test result back of negative on August 5... then tests again on August 14 and gets a test result of positive on August 19... at least that person doesn't work after August 19. They could have gotten covid on August 2, yes... but if there were no testing at all that person would still be working on August 19, which is wrong.

And if the officials are wearing masks all the time, and social distancing, there is less of a likelyhood of someone working Aug 2- Aug 18 spreading covid.

Simply doing nothing is irresponsible.

[Grant - AR]

The problem is the test doesn't make you immune from getting the virus 5 minutes after walking out from the clinic.  A lot can happen in 2 weeks.  You'd need a device like a diabetic person has and prick your finger several times a day to make sure you don't have it.  A lot of people get that test and they do think they are safe after getting the negative result.

If they can get the rapid tests up, running, and accurate, that might be the best option available.  From what I've read, these test results come back within an hour.  If that's the case, we could be tested when we get to the game site and the results would be ready before the game starts.  Of course, that also could cause a problem if 3 of the 5 officials test positive at the game site.  In that scenario, it would be very difficult to have a game with just 2 officials.  That might just be something the schools would have to agree on at the start of the season.  Of course, the costs of the tests could be a major factor in whether they can be used or not.  If every school has to test all of it's players, coaches, team personnel, and officials every Friday afternoon, I'm not sure how many of them can afford it. 

I agree that having a test on Monday with results back on Thursday or Friday doesn't guarantee a lot for the game on Friday night. 

[dammitbobby]

What is the waiver for?  To not hold them accountable for a choice I made?  Of course I'd sign it.  It wouldn't be their fault if you caught a virus.  It would be different if you were being forced to go there.

But this goes both ways - said waiver should guarantee that they will take all reasonable precautions as well in terms of providing a sanitized dressing room, bottled water, etc. 

I'd sign if as long as it laid out what their obligations are for providing clean areas.

[zebrastripes]

Maybe some schools aren't testing their students/players. Or ignoring if their kids test positive for covid. So it would be more likely that we got it.

On a related note, shouldn't officials be tested like once every 2 weeks or so? Why aren't the schools making that mandatory? In my state, hair salon employees, day care workers and retirement home employees are all employees that need to be tested every 2 weeks.

If the schools are going to require officials to be tested then they should bear the cost of such tests.

[TampaSteve]

it seems that if schools in PA may have waivers, wouldn't that first run through the State body that governs school athletics?

[bossman72]

If the schools are going to require officials to be tested then they should bear the cost of such tests.

Yeah, they require a lot of things of officials that they never pay for, so add this to the list.

[bossman72]

As for waivers, READ IT!

If it's the general "I understand that I can contract COVID from officiating and agree not to sue the school." Then you're fine.  But if the school is forcing the COVID liability on you in the waiver, be sure to line out parts you don't agree with and initial it and have someone from the school initial it, preferably the AD.  That will be a legal amendment to the waiver, they get most of what they want and you protect yourself a little bit and we get to officiate the game.

Make it clear in the waiver (I would write this in or bring an addendum with you) that you are not responsible to police social distancing, mask wearing, and any other COVID precautions.

[Csny4772]

The point I was getting at is do you think that officiating organizations should band together and simply refuse to sign the waiver, or leave it to individual choice?

[Etref]

Your organization should be informed and the members decide what they want to do

[JasonTX]

But this goes both ways - said waiver should guarantee that they will take all reasonable precautions as well in terms of providing a sanitized dressing room, bottled water, etc. 

I'd sign if as long as it laid out what their obligations are for providing clean areas.

I don't have a problem with that.  I can see where we might have a problem if they are sticking us in an unsanitary location.

[TxBJ]

I had not thought about this. As a Texas guy I hope our state association gives us guidance in this area.

[HLinNC]

providing a sanitized dressing room

We come dressed in my area.  Never been fan of it as the first association I worked, we arrived in street clothes.  Personally I think some of the guys here prefer it so they don't have to leave as early.

I've pre-gamed in storage sheds, BB dugouts, weight rooms, coaches offices, and the tailgate of my pick-up.  Compared to some of the locker rooms I've been provided, I'd settle for my tailgate. (Girls can be particularly nasty <shudder>). The largest county we serve didn't build field houses for the newer campuses when they were built and the playing field is a good ways distant from the room the school wants to provide us so we normally opt to stay on the field at halftime.

[refjeff]

If I show up for a game and they give me a waiver to sign I will tell them I have to have my legal advisor read it first. 

Their move.

I don't feel that I am being a jerk about it.  They could have sent it to me via email days ahead of time. 

 

[riffraft]

Personally, I would read it and if it is just that I will hold them harmless if I contract Covid-19, I wouldn't hesitate to sign it. Just like "public' situations I am assuming the risk that I might catch some virus by going there. It is very hard to keep an area virus and germ free in which people go.  And how would I prove that I caught it there anyway.

[bossman72]

Personally, I would read it and if it is just that I will hold them harmless if I contract Covid-19, I wouldn't hesitate to sign it. Just like "public' situations I am assuming the risk that I might catch some virus by going there. It is very hard to keep an area virus and germ free in which people go.  And how would I prove that I caught it there anyway.

Exactly, that's why people are irrationally freaking out over liability.  You can't prove you got Covid at the football game vs the grocery store vs another family member, etc.

[dammitbobby]

...so why the need for the waiver at all then? 

[yarnnelg]

Did the person delivering waiver pass a test before delivery ?
Did he wash his/ her hands in front of you? ....

Silly stuff ...

[js in sc]

Did the person delivering waiver pass a test before delivery ?
Did he wash his/ her hands in front of you? ....

Silly stuff ...

Is he wearing a mask?
Regardless, use your own pen!