Most FCIAC schools to limit spectators to two per athlete
With the state’s COVID positivity rate continuing to spike, many schools in the FCIAC have altered their spectator policies for athletic events.
The biggest change is that 11 of the conference’s 16 teams are limiting attendance to two guests per athlete for all sporting events held indoors at their gyms. All spectators are required to wear masks, per state guidance.
That group of schools includes Brien McMahon, Danbury, Darien, Greenwich, Ludlowe, New Canaan, Norwalk, Ridgefield, Staples, Warde and Wilton.
Norwalk and Brien McMahon have been following the two-spectator per athlete policy since the start of the winter season, with guests required to pre-register.
Among the five exceptions are Stamford and Westhill, which allow a maximum of 200 fans in their gyms. That has been lowered from 300.
Bridgeport Central is capping its crowds at 50% of gym capacity, and Trumbull and St. Joseph are allowing
unlimited spectators for the moment.
Schools’ spectator policies also apply to ice hockey games, with some exceptions. Stamford, Westhill, Trumbull, St. Joseph, Danbury, and the Fairfield co-op have not changed from unlimited attendance thus far.
For indoor track and field at the league’s two field houses at Wilton and Staples, capacity remains capped at 100 parents. According to the league website, “as parents leave, an equal number will be allowed
entrance.”
Swim meets for both Fairfield and Norwalk schools, Greenwich, New Canaan, Ridgefield, Stamford, Staples, Westhill and Wilton are limited to two parents or guests per athletes. Stamford and Westhill’s policy further limits attendees to home teams only.
FCIAC commissioner Dave Schulz said athletic directors discussed the spectator policies with the league on Tuesday, with input from school superintendents, and final decisions were made by the individual schools.
He said that many of the athletic directors agreed on the changes, and that more changes are possible moving forward.
“As a league today, we talked about re-evaluating this either week-by-week or bi-weekly to see what the status of the virus is and if we can get back to having people in the gym,” Schulz said. “That’s our goal.
“Ultimately, it’s the schools’ decision.”
Athletes will continue to wear masks during indoor competition.
The CIAC’s original plan, which would’ve given the option of not wearing masks to individual schools as of Dec. 23, was canceled by Gov. Ned Lamont as the state’s COVID positivity rate and cases continued to rise.
The state’s positivity rate reached a new high of 23.85% on Tuesday, a jump of nearly 10 points in the past week. The positivity rate had been as low as 1.52% on Oct. 29.