September 28, 2020 – Kewaskum, WI – A youth football coach with the Kewaskum Gridiron was relieved of his duties after attending a game Saturday even though he had tested positive for COVID.
The Kewaskum Gridiron Club is part of the Wisconsin All-American Youth Football League.
A statement from the Wisconsin All-American Youth Football League is below.
MUSKEGO — The Wisconsin All-American Youth Football League (AAYFL) was made aware of an incident involving a former Assistant Coach from one of our member organization’s 8th grade team on Saturday. The former Coach chose to be present at his team’s scrimmage on Saturday morning. At that time, he had a COVID test on pending status.
During the first portion of the scrimmage, he received a phone call from the Washington County Health Department that confirmed a positive test result. During a break shortly thereafter, his Head Coach, who is also the Organization’s President and the opposing Head Coach, who coaches the son of the Washington County Executive, met as they both received the same information of a coach present who had just received a positive test result.
The former Assistant admitted that he was the one that tested positive and the President immediately removed him from the premises and relieved him of his coaching duties. The former Assistant left without incident. All of this transpired within a very short time frame, no more than 15 minutes. As a precautionary measure, the scrimmage was immediately cancelled.
The organization, along with other site and school officials, viewed the internal video of the scrimmage to assist the Health Department with any contact tracing measures. Late Sunday evening, the Health Department cleared everyone from any further measures of required quarantine and the situation was closed.
The AAYFL applauds the swift action by both organizations and coaches present and we stand firmly behind our comprehensive Return to Play Policy, which can be viewed HERE. The AAYFL also appreciates the tireless and hard work of all our healthcare professionals and public health officials, who are handling the ongoing and ever-changing circumstances of this pandemic.
Below is a statement from Washington County.
Last week, a Washington County youth football coach exposed his players and fellow coaches to COVID-19 by attending practice and a scrimmage while symptomatic and positive. The club immediately relieved the coach of his duties and have since correctly implemented the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
“Responding to this pandemic is easy,” said County Executive Josh Schoemann, “stay home when sick, period. I have not found anyone who agrees with the coach’s decision to attend practice and a scrimmage while waiting for his test results. Individuals who blatantly ignore the Trump Administration and CDC guidelines play right into the hands of those who want to see our economy, schools and sports shut down. Every outbreak begins with a sick person not staying home. The vast majority of our citizens are doing this.”
The gridiron club immediately assessed close contacts through video of the scrimmage. The club appropriately handled the situation.
“Washington County will not be issuing orders or heavy handed government orders. We trust organizations, such as the gridiron club, to appropriately apply CDC guidelines for close contact,” said the county executive.
The Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department urges anyone who is symptomatic or waiting for test results to stay home until the results are received. If you test positive, keep your community safe by staying home. We all need to work together in order to slow the spread and keep our most vulnerable citizens safe.
Anyone who may have been exposed to this coach should be tested by calling their health care provider, visiting a regional community testing site, or calling the health department at 262-284-8170.