Spring sports start date
CIAC finalizes start date for the high school spring sports season.
The spring high school sports schedule in Connecticut is starting to come together. The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference finalized the regular-season and tournament schedules, as well as the number of games each team can play. The plan, which was shared with athletic directors Thursday morning, was approved by the CIAC on Wednesday.
The first practice date for all spring sports will be March 27, and the first contest can be held April 10. Pitchers and catchers can report for baseball starting March 20
Baseball, tennis, boys volleyball and softball can play a maximum of 20 games. Golf, lacrosse and outdoor track can play 16. Unlike the fall and winter sports where teams were capped at playing two games per week, baseball, golf, tennis, boys volleyball and softball can play up to three games per week.
Lacrosse can play three games in one week four times during the regular season. The other weeks will be limited to two games.
The last date to count for the tournament for baseball, boys volleyball and softball is May 27. For track, tennis and lacrosse, it’s May 26. For golf, it’s June 2.
The baseball state tournament is slated to begin June 1, with finals held June 11-12. The lacrosse postseason will run June 1-12, as will softball’s. The boys volleyball’s state tournament will be held June 1-10. The track class state championships will be held June 1-3, with the state open on June 7. The tennis class championships will be held May 28-June 3. The boys open and the girls individual tournament will run June 5-9. Golf’s class meets will be held June 7-9, with the state open’s date to be announced.
If a team is not able to play the minimum number of games to qualify for the state tournament
but has a winning percentage equal to or higher than the qualifying level for its sport, that team may be considered for inclusion on a case-by-case basis.
An effort should be made, the CIAC said, to schedule games “within the state of Connecticut.” In the fall and winter, interstate play was prohibited. Schools can schedule league and non-league games during the spring season.
Outdoor spring athletes will not be required to wear a mask while actively competing, though they will when they are on the bench or in the dugout. Masking protocol will be “continuously reviewed” with the state Department of Public Health.
In the plan, the CIAC wrote that any spectator guidelines should align with Department of Economic and Community Development sector rules.
“The CIAC supports the plans established by school districts that direct the presence of adults on campus at this time,” the plan read.
“Notwithstanding the above, permissible spectator/fan attendance will be governed by local districts’ current operating plan.”