CIAC Releases Plan to Resume Sports Competition This Fall

CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) on Friday released its plan to allow high schools to compete in fall sports, with numerous restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The plan calls for a shortened season, with regional, regular-season play following an extended conditioning period. The season will end with the best available option for tournament play within regions or leagues. The goal is to allow for as many participation opportunities as possible for all teams and schools within the challenging circumstances, and for that reason tournament experiences will not follow traditional CIAC fall state championship formats. Specific requirements and key dates for each sport are included in the document.

A major component of the plan is that all contests will be scheduled regionally. The CIAC will work with member leagues and individual schools over the next few weeks to develop regional schedules. Regional play will limit travel and mitigate the potential spread of any positive cases across the state. Additionally, regional play will support what is anticipated to be a challenging transportation period for member schools.

All CIAC games will be played among CIAC member schools. No out-of-state competition will be sanctioned for fall sport contests by the CIAC.

Concerns over deconditioning of many student-athletes due to an extended period of physical inactivity since March has led to prescription of a three-week conditioning period at the beginning of each sport season. This progression is designed to provide equitable conditioning time for all schools across Connecticut and ensure a safe return to sport activity for all student-athletes.

Over the next few weeks, CIAC sport-specific committees will meet to provide further detail on individual sport mitigating strategies. For example, volleyball will not be switching sides after each set and teams will not be meeting in locker rooms at halftime.

The allowance of spectators at games will be governed by local school districts’ current operating plans.

The timetable established by the CIAC for fall sports is outlined in the chart below. The complete plan document may be found here.

Don't miss local and statewide news from all across Connecticut. Register for free Patch alerts and daily newsletters.