CIAC, Dept. of Public Health discuss winter sports season

Connecticut’s governing body for high school sports and the state Department of Public Health met Monday to discuss the viability of a winter high school sports season, according to the CIAC’s executive director Glenn Lungarini.

“The meeting was informative and the CIAC looks forward to additional communication with DPH over the next two weeks,” Lungarini said.

The meeting was first reported by GameTime CT.

The tentative start date of the winter high school sports season is Jan. 19, though details surrounding the season, including which sports will be played, have yet to be established. The CIAC’s board of control will meet twice over the next two weeks — this Thursday and Jan. 14 — to determine what the season will look like. The CIAC will also meet with members of Gov. Ned Lamont’s office this week.

Lungarini said last week that the governor’s office and the DPH will largely be the driving forces behind which sports will be allowed to play.

Wrestling is the only high-risk winter sport sanctioned by the CIAC. Basketball and hockey are classified as moderate-risk, as are indoor track and gymnastics.

“As has been the case, the determination of what level of sports will be able to proceed largely comes from the state level,” Lungarini said last week. “We look forward to some conversations with the DPH and the governor’s office to determine if just moderate-risk or high-risk sports will be permitted to restart on the 19th.”

The DPH has yet to release updated winter sports guidelines this calendar year. In its most recent recommendations, announced in November, the department advised that high-risk sports do not hold games, practices or instrasquad competitions.

The guidelines also said that moderate-risk indoor sports, such as hockey and basketball, can hold practices and participate in competitions if proper modifications are in place.

According to the sector rules for sports released in November, athletes participating in moderate-risk sports are required to wear masks while competing.