Due to the emergence of the new highly transmissible Omicron variant, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) modified its guidance for the operation of interscholastic, youth, and other amateur athletics. With that update, DPH requires that all student-athletes wear a mask at all times, regardless of vaccination status, except for those instances where masks are a safety risk. The CIAC (Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference) will modify its masking requirements to align with the DPH. All CIAC member schools, until further notice, will follow the mask guidance.

Plans were for masks to not be required following the holiday break for competition in basketball, hockey, and track running events, but worn all other times, including on benches and in locker rooms. Under the change, masks will continue to be worn in those sporting events. The safety risk exception in which masks will not be required applies to wrestling, gymnastics, swimming, and track throwing and jumping events.

According to a CIAC announcement on December 22: “As a reminder, CIAC’s COVID-19 mitigating strategies and its rules and regulations maintain a safe environment for interscholastic athletic competition and provide the best opportunity to complete an entire winter sports season. Please be reminded that the CIAC Board of Control has the authority and duty to enforce its rules and regulations. The CIAC expects strict adherence to the amended mask requirements from coaches, student-athletes, officials, and spectators. Since the onset of the pandemic, CIAC has collaborated with the Connecticut State Medical Society (CSMS) Sports Medicine Committee and CT DPH with a focus on safely returning student-athletes to as many interscholastic athletic experiences as possible. Today’s modification will keep kids safely engaged in interscholastic and youth athletics. Any lack of adherence to COVID-19 mitigation strategies increases the potential of negatively impacting teams and potentially threatens the ability to complete a sports season. Let us all remain committed to providing opportunities for kids by strictly adhering to the amended guidance.”

Click here for the CIAC's mask-wearing information and here for complete details including the DPH update.