CHESHIRE, Conn – At Thursday morning’s meeting of the CIAC Board of Control, members reviewed and approved the CIAC Winter Sports Plan. The complete plan can be viewed at https://casci.ac/6390.
The first practice date for winter sports has been set for no sooner than Tuesday, January 19. Games may begin on or after Monday, February 8. Twelve regular season games will be permitted in girls and boys basketball, boys ice hockey, girls gymnastics and boys swimming. A postseason experience in all sports will be allowed from March 15-28. Those experiences will be championships at the league level. In order to maximize the number of game opportunities for all schools, no CIAC state championship tournaments will be held in the winter sports season.
Boys and girls indoor track teams will be limited to practice with indoor/outdoor meets considered no earlier than March.
The winter sports of wrestling, competitive dance and competitive cheer are classified by the Connecticut Department of Public Health as high-risk activities, and thus will be limited to small group conditioning and non-contact skill building. The low-risk sports of sideline cheer (no stunting, lifts, or tumbling) and exhibition dance (no lifts, stunting, or tumbling) may continue, provided participants wear masks and formations maintain six feet of distance between athletes.
***UPDATE***
The start of the season will be pushed up one week because there are many schools that are still in a distance learning model. It’s being done so as many schools and athletes will be able to participate.