Updated Sports Guidance Summary

Originally Published on portal.ct.gov/DECD/Content/Coronavirus-Business-Recovery/Updated-Sports-Guidance-Summary

This is a summary of the updates to the Connecticut public health guidance and reopening rules regarding organized sports and other athletic activities. Please note that beginning on January 19, 2021, the Team Sports on Pause will no longer be effective. These rules are subject to the continued stability in COVID-19 metrics. Athletes, coaches, and businesses should continue to regularly monitor the latest Department of Public Health (DPH) Guidance and Sector Rules for Reopening.

General Guidance

• Low and Moderate Risk sports (basketball, ice hockey, gymnastics, indoor track, swimming, etc.):
  • Practices can begin on January 19, 2021
  • Competitions can begin February 1, 2021

• Masks are required in Gyms and Fitness Centers at all times, no exceptions.
• Masks are required by all participants, spectators, and coaches at any indoor or outdoor sports activity at all times, including active play.
  • where the nature of play is such that two or more athletes would not be expected to have any close contact (i.e. tennis singles, individual running, etc), athletes are not required to wear face coverings during the activity, although masks are still strongly encouraged (face coverings should still be worn at all times by individuals not engaged in the activity).
• Only the necessary number of adults to hold practices and competitions shall attend, including no more than 1 parent/guardian per youth athlete, so long as the venue allows for 6 ft of social distancing of spectators, who must maintain social distancing and wear face coverings throughout the activity. Adult club/recreational sports, with participants who are aged 21 years and older, shall not have spectators.
• League organizers and teams must cooperate with contact tracing efforts by state and local health officials. If league organizers and teams fail to cooperate, state or local health officials may discontinue a team or league’s sports activities.

What is prohibited:

• Participation in High Risk Sports (other than conditioning/non-contact drills).
• Participation in any out-of-state team activities—practices (including conditioning), competitions, camps, clinics and tournaments by CT residents—or any interstate activities.
  • However, if an out-of-state resident is a member of a Connecticut team, then they can engage in that team’s activities as allowed by these rules.
  • Furthermore, if a Connecticut resident is a member of an out-of-state team, then they can engage in that team’s activities as allowed by these rules.
• Large, traditional multi-school/multi-team (more than two) sporting events.
• In-person road races should be postponed until Spring 2021, subject to COVID-19 metrics.

What is allowed:

• Practices for Moderate and Lower risk sports, beginning no earlier than January 19, 2021. This includes group aerobic conditioning, sport-specific non-contact skill development drills, team practices and/or intra-squad scrimmages.
• In-state competition of interscholastic, club and recreation Moderate and Lower risk sports, beginning no earlier than February 1, 2021, subject to the continued stability of COVID-19 metrics.
• Outdoor Recreational Activities(subject to the Sector Rules for Reopening)
• School Physical Education Classes (subject to State Department of Education Guidance)
• Gyms, Group Fitness Classes, Dance Studios, Yoga, Martial Arts Instruction, etc.
  • 50% capacity.
  • Masks required, no exceptions.
  • Subject to minimum 6 ft spacing and the Sector Rules for Reopening.

• Pools that serve more than one household may open only for regulated lap swimming with one person per lane.
  • Lanes must be a minimum of 6 ft wide.
  • Advance registration for lap swimming is encouraged.
  • Pool deck observers are discouraged. If parent/guardians are necessary, only one per swimmer is allowed, they must wear a mask and remain at least 6 ft apart.
  • Swim aerobic participants should maintain distance of 12 ft throughout class or utilize every other lane.
  • Swim lessons may allow an instructor and student in one lane, with all pairs maintaining 12 ft of separation throughout class or utilizing every other lane.