The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), in mid August, released its guidelines for fall sports as the pandemic continues. The CIAC is requiring that athletes wear masks while participating in the indoor sport of girls’ volleyball and that swimmers put them on when they are not in the water unless conditioning outside — regardless of vaccination status. There will be no masks required for outdoor sports, including football, soccer, cross country, boys’ golf, and field hockey.

Regarding sideline/exhibition cheerleading and dance, “In alignment with current youth sport recommendations, athletes, regardless of vaccination status, will wear 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.”

The CIAC is not requiring that athletes be vaccinated against COVID-19, but those who have not had their shots will be subject to quarantine should they be exposed to the virus.

Vaccinated athletes won’t have to quarantine if they remain asymptomatic, but will be required to wear a mask for 14 days or until they receive a negative COVID-19 test, which must be taken three to five days after being exposed to the virus.

The CIAC hosted a news conference on August 17 to encourage high school students to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The news conference took place at Veterans Stadium in New Britain, one of the sites for the CIAC football championships this December.

Student athletes, coaches, and school leaders attended the event in support of the Connecticut Department of Public Health and CIAC’s “Stay In The Game” campaign.