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TextOutdoor Sports Using Indoor Facilities
Athletic Facility, Equipment and Safety Committee
Policy
Revised December 2009
Outdoor Sports Using Indoor Athletic Facilities
Guidelines have been established for outdoor sports that use Fairfax County Public School’s indoor facilities outside of the instructional day. These are activities that normally are played outdoors, but are permitted indoors during inclement weather or for off-season training.
A committee shall approve equipment for indoor use. This committee shall meet at least annually and shall be comprised of representatives from the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, FCPS Community Use Office, FCPS Health and Physical Education Department, FCPS Student Activities and Athletic Programs Office, and FCPS Safety and Security Office.
Outdoor sports groups may use FCPS gyms to conduct conditioning programs only.
The following activities are prohibited for all sports:
- Kicking, throwing, striking or otherwise using sports balls, pucks, equipment, etc., in such a manner as to damage light fixtures, scoreboards, backboards, ceiling tiles, floors, windows, walls and other property
- Scrimmages, games, or league play; and
-
Kicking, throwing or propelling on goals (any structure, area set off
by traffic cones, or other temporary effort to define a goal
opening).
Baseball/Softball/Cricket
High/Secondary/Middle/Elementary Schools
- Pitching and catching: Regulation baseball and softballs are permitted as long as proper padding/gymnastic crash pads are used. No other use of regulation balls is allowed.
-
Infield Practice: Ball use is limited to Incrediballs® and other soft
balls designed for indoor use..Bat use is permitted only with adult
supervision
- Batting Cage – Batting practice is only allowed inside a completely enclosed batting cage.
-
Cricket Batting: Balls may only be hit from artificial turf or carpet
mats.
Field Hockey
High/Secondary/Middle Schools
- Use is limited to regulation indoor field hockey balls.
- Field hockey sticks may be used only if covered with protective padding (e.g. socks, stick covers).
Elementary Schools – All use prohibited
Football
High/Secondary/Middle Schools
- Kicking the football is permitted only into a kicking net.
-
Passing and non-contact practice is limited to the area within the
lined perimeter of the basketball court(s).
Elementary Schools – All use prohibited.
Golf
High/Secondary/Middle Schools
- Restricted to use of golf-ball-size Wiffle®-type limited flight balls.
- Balls may only be hit from artificial turf or carpet mats.
Elementary Schools – All use prohibited
Inline Hockey
High/Secondary/Middle/Elementary Schools – All use prohibited
Lacrosse
High/Secondary/Middle Schools
- Passing and non-contact practice is limited to the area within the lined. perimeter of the basketball court(s).
- Restricted to use of tennis balls and/or indoor practice balls.
Elementary Schools – All use prohibited.
Running
High/Secondary/Middle Schools
- No running in hallways or stairways
- No indoor bleacher running.
-
Outdoor bleacher running is permitted in aisle ways only.
Shot Put
High/Secondary Schools
- Restricted to use of indoor shot put only.
- Throws must be made from one protected surface to another (e.g. mats, sheets of plywood).
- Prohibited in vicinity of basketball goals or bleachers.
Middle/Elementary Schools – All use prohibited.
Soccer
High/Secondary/Middle/Elementary Schools
- Restricted to use of an indoor or soft (felt-covered, foam, etc) soccer ball.
-
Passing and non-contact practice is limited to the area within the
lined. perimeter of the basketball court(s).
Tennis
High/Secondary/MiddleSchools
- Hitting of balls is restricted to walls without windows.
Elementary Schools – All use prohibited.
Note: Floor Hockey has surfaced as a request for gymnasium use. Although this is technically an indoor sport, this document will reflect the requirements for games or conditioning. They are:
- Play on vinyl floors only (no wood floors scheduled)
- No skates allowed – proper athletic shoes required
- Use is limited to foam or plastic puck or ball
- Floor hockey blades must be covered with protective padding (unless polyethylene blades are used)
Revised 12/11
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