Fall Guidance Released By CT High School Sports Governing Body

CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), the governing body of the state's scholastic athletic program, has issued guidance related to fall sports in consideration of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The guidance was reviewed with the state Department of Public Health Tuesday, and developed in consultation with Connecticut State Medical Society colleagues, according to a written statement from the CIAC.

The CIAC guidance follows current Executive Order 13A, which decrees everyone must wear masks regardless of vaccination status while inside certain settings, such as schools. Spectator attendance regulations will be determined by each individual school district, with the CIAC determining protocol for its state championship tournaments.

"We look forward to our students returning to school and plan on a full season with state tournaments," the CIAC said in the statement.

Guidelines for fall sports are:

• Volleyball – In alignment with current executive orders pertaining to mask requirements in school buildings, athletes, regardless of vaccination status, will wear masks for all indoor activities including active competition, practice, and all events around active play. If volleyball practices/training sessions occur outdoors, masks may be removed while in the outdoor setting. This follows practices implemented in the 2020-2021 school year for both girls’ and boys’ volleyball.
• Swimming – Athletes, regardless of vaccination status, will wear masks for all activities around active practice and competition, however, will not wear masks while in the water. Masks may be removed for outdoor dry-land training while athletes are actively conditioning.
• Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Soccer – In alignment with current youth sport recommendations, athletes, regardless of vaccination status, will not be required to wear masks during outdoor activities, practice, or competition. When indoors (e.g. locker rooms, indoor practice, classroom team/film session, weight room, etc.), mask should be worn in alignment with current executive orders pertaining to mask requirements in schools.
• Sideline/Exhibition Cheerleading and Dance – In alignment with current youth sport recommendations, athletes, regardless of vaccination status, will masks indoors. For safety purposes, masks may be removed indoors when performing stunts and put back on after the stunt sequence is completed. Outdoors, masks are not required while actively cheering, dancing, or stunting during halftime performances. Masks are not required while cheerleading on the sideline.
• Officials – Swim and volleyball officials will wear masks in alignment in Connecticut mask requirements inside school buildings. Cross country, field hockey, football, and soccer officials are not required to wear masks while officiating outdoor competitions.

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