COVID-19: Governor's Executive Order Allows Contact Sports to Resume Immediately

Published on July 20, 2020

Order Effective for Outdoor Sports Only

Gov. Phil Murphy has signed Executive Order No. 168 to allow for the resumption of contact drills and practices, and competitions, to resume for "high-risk'' sports.

Under the Governor's EO, which is effective immediately, practices must be held at outdoor venues ONLY. All sports also will have to abide by state health and safety protocols. Read the guidelines.

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The Governor said the Executive Order would allow resumption for sports such as football, rugny, lacrosse, wrestling, martial arts, boxing, and cheerleading, among others. All sports, including youth, high school, and college teams, would have to follow guidelines outlined by the state Department of Health, he said.

Guidelines include, among others, limited sharing of equipment, requirements for regular disinfecting and sanitizing of equipment and training locations, and regular COVID screenings of coaches, athletes, and staff.

"We do feel confident that in an outdoor setting, and with proper health and safety protocols in place -- and being followed -- that these sports may be responsibly resumed,'' said Gov. Murphy.

Governor Murphy had signed Executive Order No. 149 on May 29, allowing organized sports to resume on a phased-in schedule as defined by the Department of Health as "low," "medium," and "high risk" activities.

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