Connecticut High School Coaches Association

A message from CHSCA Executive Director Joe Canzanella

It was expected that the NFHS would be taking action on our request to examine the data behind its tiered system of COVID risk categories for sports. NFHS has approved a new position. You can read its latest position at this link:

https://www.nfhs.org/articles/nfhs-revises-guidance-on-covid-19-transmission-during-high-school-sports/

The CIAC will examine the NFHS's latest guidance and will meet with our Sports Medicine Advisory Committee to review its revisions. The CIAC has also requested a meeting with DPH, DECD, and the Governor's office to review and discuss the NFHS's updated guidance as part of our continued collaboration focused on providing safe sport experiences for CT athletes.

 

The CHSCA leadership will monitor and contribute to the discussion with all stakeholders in order to provide a safe beginning and continuation of all winter and spring high school sports for our membership and their student-athletes.

Yours in sport,

Joe Canzanella, CMAA

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CIAC Update from Glenn Lungarini, ED – January 15, 2021

Hello Athletic Directors & Coaches,
The recently approved and released CIAC winter sports plan cites following DECD Sector Rules in several areas. The most recent DECD Sector Rules were updated on the state website Friday evening, January 15, 2021. 

After an initial review, it does not appear that the rules change anything stated within CIAC's Approved Winter Sports Plan. However, the guidance around pools is an area of importance and one that may impact your plans. 

Please review this updated guidance for pools with your local DPH to determine how, or if, it impacts your plans.

Link to updated DECD Sector Rules: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/DECD/Covid_Business_Recovery-Phase-2-1/CTReopens21_Sports_FitnessCenters011521.pdf

Link to updated DECD Sector Rule Guidance: https://portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Coronavirus-Business-Recovery/Updated-Sports-Guidance-Summary

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out.
Thank you, Glenn Lungarini, Executive Director, CAS-CIAC

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CIAC Approves Winter Sports Plan

The CIAC Board of Control approved its winter sports plan on January 14. Below you will find PDF and Word versions of the plan. The consent form is in Appendix III. The Word version of the document allows you to copy and paste any portion for distribution to parents.

PDF - https://casci.ac/6390
Word - https://casci.ac/6391

It is important to note the flexibility this provides individual districts to determine a return time that meets the needs of your school community. The CIAC Board of Control has canceled state championships and will maintain all regular season and tournament play within leagues. Practices may start no sooner than January 19 and games may start no sooner than February 8. However, the elimination of state tournaments allows schools to return at a time when they are comfortable, and play a maximum number of games prior to the end of the winter season, which will be March 28. Thank you for all of your continued efforts to provide exceptional education-based experiences to students during these challenging times.

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Cheer and Dance Update

Below you will find the link to the letter that was sent from Cherese Miller, CIAC staff, to Athletic Directors.
“I am so sorry the winter competitive cheer and dance season had to end this way. We were all holding out hope for these students. Thank you all for your hard work, time and commitment throughout the school year. ”

https://www.casciac.org/pdfs/cheer_dance_2021.docx

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CIAC Boys' Swim Committee Update

The guidelines for swimming were updated. It's not back to regular practices but with this we should be able to have practice and conduct a season. CIAC/CAS Executive Director Glenn Lungarini spent a significant amount of time negotiating this. If you get the chance it would be good to send him a word of thanks. He was able to collaborate with DPH today, who also consulted with DECD, to amend the swim guidance of only one swimmer per lane. The following guidance for swim teams has been approved:

• Recreational lap swimming is limited to one person per lane.

• Swim teams can have up to four swimmers per lane during practice and pre-match warm up periods, provided:

• Cohorts consisting of up to four swimmers who will use the same lane at the same time are constant throughout the entire season.

• Swimmers are engaged in continuous swimming while using the same lane (i.e. the group isn’t gathered at one end of the lane without masks during break periods or to receive coaching).

• Swimmers remain maximally spaced to the extent possible during active swimming (i.e. pair swimmers of similar skill level/speed to the extent possible).