Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com – The H-DNL Fall sports seasons get under way next week.

By Ray Hamill — With the high school Fall sports seasons now just days away, on Saturday morning the H-DNL released its updated COVID guidelines for student athletes, coaches and spectators.

According to H-DNL commissioner Jack Lakin, the league voted to approve the new guidelines after consultation with Humboldt County health officials.

Member schools will conduct weekly testing of all Fall Sports unvaccinated players, unless otherwise instructed by Humboldt or Del Norte County health departments, and individual schools can decide to test more frequently if they wish.

The league also announced that “coaches and volunteers involved with sports must be vaccinated or follow regular testing as mandated by the State for school employees/volunteers.”

The H-DNL football season kicks off next weekend, with the local prep soccer, cross country, girls golf and girls tennis seasons all beginning in early September.

Social distancing is encouraged for these outdoor sports, and individual schools will “determine their own reduced capacity guidelines,” depending on size and locations.

The league also voted to require masks to be worn by all sideline participants, including athletes, coaches, support staff and anyone else on the sidelines.

For volleyball, everyone in an attendance will be required to wear masks, including players, coaches, officials and spectators, and capacity will be reduced to 50 percent of the posted capacity limits.

In addition, the league announced that after not charging admission during last year’s shortened seasons, it will return to charging full admission prices — $6 for most adults and $3 for all others.

The full guidelines read as follows:

“1. The HDNL voted to approve member schools will conduct weekly testing of all Fall Sports unvaccinated players, unless otherwise instructed by County Health Departments (Del Norte or Humboldt). Individual schools may decide to test more frequently.

“2. Additionally, Coaches and volunteers involved with sports must be vaccinated or follow regular testing as mandated by the State for school employees/volunteers.

“3. The HDNL voted to approve member schools will be implementing the quarantine guidelines for all student athletes as required by the California Dept.of Public Health (CDPH).

“4. Following CDPH K-12 and Humboldt County Health Dept. guidelines, member schools will require EVERYONE in an attendance at HDNL Volleyball games to wear masks; players, coaches, officials and spectators.

“5. Following the current Humboldt County Order for wearing masks in all outdoor public settings, the HDNL voted to require masks to be worn by all sideline participants; players, coaches, support staff, etc.

“6. HDNL schools will post a notice of CDPH and County Masking requirements at the entry point for Fall athletic events.

“7. To reduce capacity for indoor events (Volleyball) and the risk of exposure, the HDNL voted to reduce capacity for volleyball games to 50% of the posted capacity limits.

“8. Due to the extreme diversity of HDNL member school total enrollments, outdoor seating and standing capacities, and sport specific attendance; each HDNL member school may determine their own reduced capacity guidelines for outdoor athletic events.

“9. The HDNL also discussed encouraging “social distancing”and avoiding “close contact” while attending HDNL athletic events and offering masks at no cost to spectators as they enter the game facilities.

“10. HDNL host schools will notify non-HDNL schools of the current COVID requirements for Fall athletic events.

“11. HDNL schools will notify the other League members should their school implement additional guidelines for spectators at their home games.

“12. The HDNL will continue to review and revise these guidelines as COVID conditions change within Humboldt and Del Norte Counties and as updated guidance is provided by County Health Departments and CDPH.”