Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission proposes new guidelines for MMA/Boxing events post-COVID pandemic
As mixed martial arts and boxing promoters across the country eagerly await the “green light” to resume operations, new hope for the “Keystone State” was released today as Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission Executive Director, Greg Sirb, put forth a proposal that would allow for events to start-up again post-COVID-19.
Promoters who wish to hold events must sign and date the guidelines and return to the State Athletic Commission (SAC) before moving forward.
The proposal is broken down by county by county according to their current color coding phase. Below is the list of where each county stands as of June 12, 2020 and what the options are for each.
Yellow Phase
Berks, Bucks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Erie, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Pike, Schuylkill, and Susquehanna.
Green Phase
Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Butler, Cambria, Cameron, Carbon, Centre, Clarion, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia Crawford, Cumberland, Elk, Fayette, Forest, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Juniata, Lawrence, Lycoming, McKean, Mercer, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Potter, Snyder, Somerset, Sullivan, Tioga, Union, Venango, Warren, Washington Wayne, Westmoreland, Wyoming and York
Also these Counties will be going Green on June-19:
Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Monroe, Perry, Pike, and Schuylkill
Proposed guidelines below for counties in “Yellow” phase:
1. SAC would like to begin planning for events in mid-June, but is open to discussing the timeline.
2. SAC has met with numerous promoters that are interested in staging boxing and MMA events that would be TV
tapings only.
3. These events will have no live crowd/spectators.
4. The maximum number of people in the ring area shall be less than 25. All people in the ring area can adhere to strict social distancing, except for the fighters, the referee, and the trainers.
5. Each fighter will have a separate dressing area. Because there will be no crowd, the arena will have amble empty space that could be used to set up very private dressing rooms.
6. All personnel at the event (except the fighters when the bout is going on) will be required to wear a mask and latex free gloves at all times.
7. Each event will involve 4 – 6 fights and should last for a total of about 2-2.5 hours.
8. Everyone entering the building must have their temperature taken and respond to all questions on the COVID questionnaire by the SAC ringside physician, who can deny entry to any symptomatic individual.
9. When fighters, their corner people and trainers get to the hotel where participants for the event are staying, they will go through mandatory medical screenings and temperature checks. Fighters, corners, trainers and any other team members planning to enter the event space or have close contact with others at the event will be tested for COVID-19. The SAC medical team will administer the diagnostic swab coronavirus test. All fighters and team members must self-quarantine and social distance from the time of their COVID-19 test until their scheduled arrival time at the event for their match.
10. At ring side both fighter’s gloves will be sanitized right before the bout begins using sanitizers from the
EPA’s list N.
11. After a bout is over, the fighters and their trainers will exit the building. This will help keep the total number of people in the building to a minimum.
12. The referee shall wear a mask, goggles/glasses and latex free gloves.
13. The ring area will be sanitized after each bout using sanitizers from the EPA’s list N.
14. The venue will be sanitized before and after the event using sanitizers from the EPA’s list N.
15. The promoter shall have hand sanitizers readily available at ringside to be used by all personnel.
16. All personnel entering the building shall be required to sign a form indicating that they have not had any known SARS – Cov-2 infections and have not been admitted to a hospital for any type of Covid-19 symptoms.
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17. Social distancing will be strictly enforced for all personnel except those fighters that are competing.
18. Commentators and media will be spaced apart, rather than at one table together as they are in a traditional setting. Social distancing should be observed during any post-fight interviews.
Current medical requirements for all athletes proposing to be licensed by SAC include:
Annual Physical exam – on the PA SAC physical form
Annual eyes exam on the PA SAC form
HIV – Hep. B/C tests
Pre-bout Physicals – administered by SAC licensed physicians
Paramedics and ambulance at the event at all times
For those counties that are in the “Green” phase the following is allowed:
No more than 250 spectators or greater than 50% occupancy-whichever is less and the following must be adhered to:
All people in attendance, especially those around the ring/cage area, must adhere to strict social distancing, except for the fighters, the referee, and the trainers/seconds.
Each fighter will have a separate dressing area.
Fighters, corners, trainers and any other members (referees) that cannot practice proper social distancing will be tested for COVID-19. The SAC medical team will administer the diagnostic swab coronavirus test. All fighters and team members must self-quarantine and social distance from the time of their COVID-19 test until their scheduled arrival time at the event for their match. Also these individuals must respond to all questions on the COVID questionnaire and shall be required to sign a form indicating that they have not had any known SARS-Cov-2 infections and have not been admitted to a hospital for any type of Covid-19 symptoms. The SAC ringside physician can deny entry to any individual that is symptomatic or poses a risk based on the Covid questionnaire. All fighters must also have their temperature taken – any temperature above 100.4 will result in that individual not being permitted to enter the building.
At ring side both fighter’s gloves will be sanitized right before the bout begins using sanitizers from the EPA’s list N.
After a bout is over, the fighters and their trainers will exit the building.
The referee shall wear a mask, goggles/glasses and latex free gloves.
The ring area will be sanitized after each bout using sanitizers from the EPA’s list N.
The venue will be sanitized before and after the event using sanitizers from the EPA’s list N.
The promoter shall have hand sanitizers readily available at ringside to be used by all personnel.
Social distancing will be strictly enforced for all personnel except those fighters that are competing.
Commentators and media will be spaced apart, rather than at one table together as they are in a traditional setting. Social distancing should be observed during any post-fight interviews.
**All spectators at the event will be required to wear a mask at all times.
The promoter must designate a primary point of contact for all questions related to COVID-19, and all parents, athletes, officials, and coaches must be provided the person’s contact information. The promoter must develop a plan of action in the event an athlete, coach, or official falls ill, make the plan publicly available, and explain it to the entire sport community.
All athletes, coaches, and officials must bring their own water and drinks to the event. Team water coolers for sharing through disposable cups are not allowed. Fixed water fountains should not be used.
Whenever possible, equipment and other personal items should be separated and not shared. If equipment must be shared, all equipment should be properly disinfected between users.
Create protocols to limit entrance and exit traffic, designating specific entry to and exits from facilities. Establish protocols to ensure staggered pick up and drop off for practice and events and ensure that athletes are not congregating while awaiting pick up and to ensure congregation or crowding does not occur on drop off. Pickups and drop offs should remain outside.
** Please note counties/locations may change from green back to a yellow stage at any time and thus conditions/requirements for an event may also change.
Physicians, referees, or anyone in contact with the athletes are advised to shower and change out of the work clothing after the event is over.
