Telegraph file p;hoto by TOM KING Nashua South's Jason Compoh reaches for the ball during an off-season workout last summer. Those voluntary but restricted workouts for North and South athletes of all sports have been approved to begin, likely by the end of this month.

NASHUA – School may be out for the summer but high school athletes in Nashua are now allowed to prepare for next year with organized workouts.

Indeed, Nashua Athletic Director Lisa Gingras’ work is just beginning.

The Nashua Board of Education voted the other night to approve a proposal submitted by Gingras to allow all Nashua High School North and South athletic teams to hold summer training-workout sessions, something that is normally permissible according to New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association rules.

The plan contains two phases, outdoor workouts only for the first phase and then, if all goes well two or three weeks later, the school gyms and weight rooms will be opened up for use.

Under the approved proposal, Phase 1 would likely begin on Monday, June 29, and workouts would focus on fitness and training. The athletic fields, track, and tennis courts at both North and South will be open for use. Stellos Stadium, Gingras said, will not.

“That was part of the proposal,” Gingras said of the field use. “A lot of our kids have been very sedentary during the spring, so this is important and will help,” Gingras said, as one of the main concerns is the injury factor for previously idle athletes for next year, whenever sports are approved.

The opening phase will also included individual sport skill development, and there are, of course safety restrictions, including non-contact, no sharing of equipment used by hand, etc.

The number of participants per workout in Phase 1 are believed to be nine, and either stay at nine or group sizes can increase per state and CDC guidelines in Phase 2.

Phase 2 would begin sometime toward the end of July. The weight room rules limit participants to 15 students per hour, set hours, and the staff member supervising must wear a face covering at all times. Phase 2 also allows for the sharing of game-practice balls as long as proper sanitization is practiced.

Again, these are for all high school sports – not just those set for the fall. At the same time, Gingras said this will lead into and certainly better prepare student athletes for the scheduled NHIAA start of fall sports, which is Friday, Aug. 14 for football and Monday, Aug. 17 for all other sports.

If those seasons are given the go-ahead, that is. Gingras’ full proposal is available via the Board of Education links at nashua.edu.

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