Dark Winter ...

[BillyMac]

Our governor, Ned Lamont, and our State Department of Public Health have canceled all team sports (except for collegiate and professional) in Connecticut until January 19, 2020.

This includes interscholastic (including Christian schools, which were prepared to start December 1, 2020), recreation, travel, adult, AAU, etc., even team sports in school physical education classes, and pick-up-games, are prohibited.

Team Sports on Pause through 1/19/2021
Pause affects all sporting activities except for Collegiate and Professional.
Masks now required in Gyms and Fitness Centers, no exceptions.
“Team” is defined as a group of more than 4 people jointly engaged in an organized or recreational athletic activity on a court, field, etc.

What is prohibited during Team Sports on Pause:
Participation in High Risk Sports (other than conditioning/non-contact drills)
All Team scrimmages, competitions, camps, clinics and tournaments (including all interscholastic, “pick-up” games, and other informal athletic activities)
Participation in any out-of-state Team practices (including conditioning), competitions, camps, clinics and tournaments by CT residents
Participation in competitions, camps, clinics, tournaments in CT by out-of-state Teams
Teams are not able to break up into smaller groups to practice or compete (e.g. a 20 person team practicing or competing in groups of 4 or less at the same time and location is not allowed)

What is allowed during Team Sports on Pause:
Outdoor Recreation activities
Individual and small group training (4 people or fewer)
Individual and small group Moderate and Low Risk Sports (4 people or fewer)
Gyms (masks now required, no exceptions, minimum 6 foot spacing and other Sector Rule Safeguards)
Group Fitness Classes & Dance Studios, Yoga, Martial Arts Instruction, etc.
Reduced to 25% capacity (from 50%)
Masks now required, no exceptions
Subject to minimum 6 foot spacing and other Sector Rule Safeguards
School Gym Classes (No Team sports subject to Pause to be played)

Risk Categorizations with Associated Sports, National Federation of State High School Associations, Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, May 2020

Higher Risk
Sports that involve close, sustained contact between participants, lack of significant protective barriers, and high probability that respiratory particles will be transmitted between participants.
Wrestling, Martial Arts, 11-on-11 Football, Rugby, Boys Lacrosse, Boxing, Competitive Cheer, Competitive Dance Teams

Moderate Risk
Sports that involve close, sustained contact, but with protective equipment in place that may reduce the likelihood of respiratory particle transmission between participants OR intermittent close contact OR group sports OR sports that use equipment that can’t be cleaned between participants.
Basketball, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Swimming relays, Soccer, Water polo, Gymnastics, Ice hockey, Field hockey, 7-on-7 football, Girls lacrosse, Pole vault, High jump, Long jump
Rowing/Crew (with two or more rowers in shell), Tennis (doubles), Racquet sports (squash, pickleball, racquetball)

Lower Risk
Sports that can be done with social distancing or individually with no sharing of equipment or the ability to clean the equipment between use by competitors.
Individual running events, Throwing events (javelin, shot put, discus), Running/Cross Country (staggered starts), Individual swimming, Golf, Weightlifting, Alpine skiing/ snowboarding, Sideline cheer
Rowing/Crew (single sculling), Tennis (singles), Fencing