The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference has released their "guidelines" for school athletes ages 12 and up. They are, of course, encouraging school athletic directors and team admins to help their athletes get a vaccine if need be to "help them stay on the field and in the classroom this fall." Basically everyone has to wear a mask regardless of their vaccination status while "inside certain settings, such as schools". Like swimmers have to mask up, unless they are in the water. Volleyball athletes have to mask up for ALL indoor activities, regardless of their vaccination status. Indoor cheerleading and dance will have to wear masks indoors and can remove them while performing stunts. If they are outdoors, they do NOT have wear masks while actively performing or cheering on the sideline. Now to outdoor sports. Cross country, field hockey, football, golf and soccer will NOT be required to wear a mask outdoors, only indoors when they are conditioning or working out in a gym. Officials of these sports are also NOT required to wear a mask.
Some other guidelines from the CIAC:
- Fully vaccinated athletes and staff who are in close contact with a COVID-19 case do not need to quarantine from sports or other activities if they remain asymptomatic and wear a mask until they test negative or after two weeks.
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated athletes that experience symptoms after close contact with a COVID-19 case will need to quarantine for 10 days with a negative test or two weeks without a test.
- Unvaccinated asymptomatic students who have had close contact with a known COVID-19 case will quarantine for 10 days with a negative test or two weeks without a test.
- The CIAC will support any spectator and fan attendance allowance established by school districts. The CIAC will determine attendance protocol for state championship tournaments.