By Andy Walter

DOVER — With the school year starting up, there’s no shortage of COVID-19 guidelines and protocols being discussed.

The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association has decided not to make things any more complicated by adding another layer of guidelines just for sports.

At a special board meeting on Thursday, the DIAA opted not to put in any pandemic-specific regulations for the fall season.

But volleyball players, along with anyone else at their matches, will still have to wear masks because they’ve been mandated by the state for people inside school buildings.

Other than that, Delaware high school athletics are slated to be held this fall with the same regulations as before the pandemic.

The DIAA did consider its own emergency regulation requiring masks for indoor activities. The measure also could have mandated health screenings for game participants and a few other rules.

In the end, though, the DIAA didn’t have enough board members present to take any action on it.

“I argued that I felt it was redundant because you already have two state regulations that say the same thing,” said Dr. Bradley Layfield, the DIAA board chairman and Sussex Central High principal. “And I understood those who supported it, saying, by passing our own regulation, we could impose DIAA penalties — which we already have in our regs.

“I recommended that we hold off and we don’t put forth an emergency reg until it’s absolutely needed.”

Individual school districts can still require their own protocols, like screenings or temperature checks for athletes and coaches.

As of now, Layfield said there haven’t been any recommendations about limiting the size of crowds at events. Last fall, only family members of players and coaches could attend.

Most high schools began preseason practice for fall sports on Monday. The first competition date is Sept. 2 when a handful of football games will be played.

Thursday’s special meeting was held to give the DIAA members time to consider measures after a few state agencies enacted regulations last week.

“I do believe there is a consensus among many on the board that we do not feel we are in a position to be putting in layers of regulations that are more than ones already being provided by DOE and DHSS,” said Layfield.