CT Department of Public Health Issues Organized Sports Guidance

HARTFORD, CT — In the wake of the recent decision by the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) to cancel scholastic football this fall due to the risk factors involved during the coronavirus pandemic, and with the onset of several independent leagues looking to provide high school players a chance to compete on the gridiron, the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) on Friday released comprehensive guidance and recommendations for all organized sports, including youth and adult club and private league play.

The guidance is based on a coronavirus risk assessment conducted by the National Federation of High School Associations, a national organization governing high school athletics. The guidance includes a description of the risk categories for sports, breaks down the risks of different activity associated with those sports and makes recommendations for each of those activities.

Highest risk sports, involving close, sustained contact between participants, lack of significant protective barriers and high probability that respiratory particles will be transmitted between participants, are wrestling, 11-on-11 football, boys lacrosse and competitive cheer and dance, according to the DPH.

The DPH recommends allowing in-state games and tournament play for low and moderate risk sports, and allowing small group conditioning and non-contact drills in higher risk activities.

The Connecticut High School Independent Football League (CHS-IFL) is a new club football league looking to start in October. It is being planned by Dan Lacasky and Mark Siems, "who run semi-pro football teams with zero COVID-19 cases," Lacasky said. "We're appalled that Connecticut is one of two states without a commitment to play football, while we have the lowest COVID-19 transmission rate in the nation."

Longtime high school coach Jack Cochran is forming the Yankee Football League, with an 8-game schedule planned for teams of high school players in grades 10-12. Games would be played at Willow Brook Park in New Britain.

"We have set up a plan, a strategy and a model that has proven to work in recent weeks by other high schools, colleges and professional teams," Cochran said in a recent letter sent to coaches statewide.

Reaction to the proposed new leagues is mixed among high school coaches.

"I figured it was coming eventually, but all the information is not clear yet," Hillhouse coach Reggie Lytle said. "This is a form of AAU ball. It should be interesting."

Meriden, for example, recently set strict guidelines on allowing use of city fields by an independent team. "Any positive test for COVID-19, by any player, coach, assistant coach, or any other individual involved with a high school team that is deemed by the Director of Health and Human Services to have exposed the team, will require that entire team to quarantine for the required 14 days."

Killingly High School head coach Chad Neal said, "The independent leagues do provide an opportunity, especially to senior football players to have an opportunity to play this fall and have some closure. For teams that are entering and can "afford" to play, it definitely provides them with a competitive advantage if their coaches are coaching. For us, we will continue to compete in the ECC with a plan that allows players to compete weekly, while practicing during the week as a team. The opportunity for our players to continue to build relationships with their coaches and teammates is of utmost important to us."

"I looked at the options for my kids, because obviously I want them to be able to play and selfishly, I want to coach," Stafford/Somers/East Windsor head coach Brian Mazzone said. "So I exhausted all options and it just wasn't financially feasible for our team. I know that is true for a lot of teams around here. I do not like the idea of independent leagues. I think it's a real slippery slope. One thing I love about high school football is how you can only play with your high school. There aren't private leagues like other sports have. That helps create a lot of town and school pride in football and it helps to keep your kids together. From what I am hearing, there are a lot of hangups in getting these leagues going. It might be a reason why there haven't been private leagues before this."

The complete DPH sports guidance document may be viewed here.

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