Winter sports preparation is full swing around southeast Iowa beginning today. Monday, November 16th is the first day allowed for boys basketball practice by the Iowa High School Athletic Association. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union gave girls programs this year a start date of November 9th. Along with the normal hard work over the next two weeks to get ready for the start of play, the state has issued some extra guidelines related to COVID-19 for the upcoming season. They include, but are not limited to, only coaches and officials meeting prior to the game with no handshakes exchanged before the game. Limiting the number of bench personnel, placing team benches opposite spectator seating where possible, addition of chairs and rows when possible to benches, face coverings for players not in the game, limited staff at the scorers table, sanitizing the ball, during time outs, between quarters and during the game as needed, players sanitizing hands before and after warm-ups, at all timeouts, at quarter and halftime breaks and any time they leave the playing area. A full list of guidelines and recommendations can be found on the IAHSAA website. The first day available for competition for the boys is Monday, November 30th. On opening night, Washington will travel to Centerville, Hillcrest welcomes Mediapolis, and Lone Tree hosts Iowa Valley.