The Ohio High School Athletic Association has updated some of its Coronavirus regulations in regards to the kind of contact players can have.
One of the best forms of respect players can give to each other has been declared a no-no. The handshake.
Student athletes are allowed to participate in full contact sports such as football and wrestling but they can’t shake hands.
Dr. Karissa Niehoff, executive director of the National Federation of State High School Associations wrote in May, “[i]n wrestling…shaking hands before a match is actually a part of the rules, which, of course, will have to be relaxed for the coming season.”
So, students are allowed to bear hug each other but can’t show respect towards their opponents.
I’m not too familiar with wrestling but I’m pretty sure that there is no social distancing at all when participating.
Officials aren’t even allowed to declare the winner of a match by lifting up the hand of the victor.
BreitBart.com said, “[t]o conclude the end of match procedure, the official may point to the winning wrestler while raising his/her own arm (with open hand) having the requisite wristband color (red/green) of the winning wrestler.”
Some people, just aren’t using their brain when it comes to some of these COVID-19 regulations.