measured roll-out, to doing this in as safe a way as we can, and given the fact I believe in our heart is not how many games we play but how we can do this safely.”

The typical out-of-season guidelines, which prohibit players from working with coaches in the offseason, would also be relaxed. Arlotto said the county was prepared to outline its out-of-season plan the same day Salmon and Gov. Hogan announced Sept. 24 the option to return in October, but it was put on hold as a result.

Several issues were discussed, most notably transportation of athletes. Culp said “we very much have been leaning on the side of self-transportation in all of the plans right now,” but “it can’t be, from our lens, a one-size-fits-all scenario.”

Arlotto acknowledged: “if they don’t have a ride back and forth, that is going to be a problem.”

“Depending on the option the board chooses, and cuts are made, we’ll have to work with individual coaches and athletic directors to see if there’s any way to provide activity buses,” he added.

Culp said the possibility of interschool scrimmages during the out-of-season period would not align with the plan currently on the table due to safety reasons.

Arlotto additionally advocated against outside county play. Given the size of Anne Arundel County, there would not be a need to compete against other counties until there was state play. Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman made his recommendation against “high risk sports,” such as football and wrestling, without modifications.

The return of high school athletics has been a contentious issue. On Monday, a mix of 200 high school parents, players and coaches crowded Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company station in Severna Park to call for the return of high school sports.

The state’s most western counties — Garrett, Allegany and Washington — have voted to return to play this month, but Howard, Carroll, Frederick, and Baltimore counties have not revealed their plans to return. Harford County won’t begin until February, while Montgomery and Wicomico counties have said they will not start on Oct. 7. The MPSSAA postponed the fall and winter seasons Aug. 3 because of coronavirus concerns.

That decision came after the 2020 spring season was canceled on April 28. No public high school interscholastic competitions have taken place since March 7 after the state basketball tournament was postponed and later canceled.

For the state’s two largest private school athletic organizations, the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association and Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland, discussions about a return to play continue with a scheduled meeting this week with the two boards of governors.