Cougar Athletics announces plan to connect with community

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By CINDY CROSBY

cindyc4@yahoo.com

Following the June 29 announcement from Colleton County High School Director of District Athletics Wayne Alston postponing summer conditioning and workouts until further notice, the athletic department has been busy working on plans for all eventualities heading into the 2020-2021 school year.

During last week’s Colleton County School Board meeting, Alston presented plans for the upcoming school year. Alston said the SCHSL sent guidelines to each district on what re-opening athletics should look like and since, these recommendations have provided the foundation for Colleton County High School’s approach to practice requirements. Those guidelines addressed facility cleaning, limitations on gatherings, pre-workout screening, face coverings, hygiene practices, physical activity and equipment, assumption of risk waiver, and specific sport limitations.

The Colleton County Athletic Department issued a joint statement from coaches that said, “As a collective group, we are asking for all community members to please social distance, practice good hygiene and wear face covers to prevent the spread of this virus. We want everyone to know how important athletics is as an outlet, source of exercise and character development for all our student-athletes. If we band together as a community, we can flatten the curve and return to some form of normalcy.”

Key points from Alston’s presentation to the school board included:

• CCHS had a total of 11 graduating athletes commit to participate in collegiate athletics.

• To date, CCHS has 51 athletes complete registration for athletics on PlanetHS and start participating in workouts.

• Over 100 people attended a recent re-opening meeting held in June.

• An introduction to an athletic department app

• Colleton County Athletics Website: colletoncountycougars.com

• Athletic Sportsfolio’s Program

• PlanetHS: Athletic Registration

• Virtual Senior Sponsorship Booklet

In addition, Alston announced plans to encourage Colleton County High School student athletes to become more involved at the community level and connect with youth at the elementary level, especially during Covid-19.

“We would like to make sure that our student-athletes are more involved in their community and connecting with our younger Cougars,” said Alston.

“With our positive Covid-19 cases on the rise, we want to make sure that we have alternatives in place as we move forward. We want to be prepared for whatever decision is made and start moving in the direction of how times are changing.”

Alston’s future plans for CCHS Athletics include:

• Virtual reading to local elementary students

• “How-To” videos on sports

• Virtual “Lunch with a Cougar”

• Cougar Pen Pal Connection

• Healthy Family Club

To learn more or to volunteer, please contact the Colleton County Athletics Department at (843)782-0035.