The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) updated its workplace safety and reopening standards for youth and amateur sports on Thursday.
The changes for Phase 3, Step 1 go into effect on Monday, and while the document doesn’t mean there will or will not be high school sports this fall, it does indicate what can be expected in the event sports returns. According to the state agency, the guidance standards apply to K-12 schools.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has yet to announce its plans for the fall season. The MIAA is awaiting guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
“According to the timeline established by the Board of Directors during their July meeting, the Board will convene no later than three business days after the release of the DESE guidelines,” the MIAA said in a statement following the release of the EEA guidelines
There were no changes in the risk level of sports. In regards to fall high school sports, golf, gymnastics and cross country are classified as low risk; volleyball, field hockey and soccer are defined as moderate risk; football is a high-risk sport.
Other low-risk activities are: tennis, pickleball, swimming, catch, disc golf, individual biking, surfing, horseback riding, individual sailing, fishing, hunting, motor sports, no contact exercise classes, and individual crew.
Other moderate activities are: baseball, softball, crew, sailing, track and field, running clubs, team swimming, dance class, fencing and girls lacrosse.
Other high-risk activities are: wrestling, rugby, basketball, lacrosse, ice hockey, competitive cheer, martial arts, ultimate frisbee, boxing and pair figure skating.
The EEA still breaks down activities into four levels:
■Level 1: Individual or socially distanced group activities (non-contact workouts, aerobic conditioning, individual skill work and drills).
■Level 2: Competitive practices (intra-team/group games, contact drills, and scrimmages).
■Level 3: Competitions (games, meets, matches, races, etc.).
■Level 4: Tournaments (outdoor only).
How the sports align with the levels is where the EEA made changes.
Low-risk sports can still participate in all four levels. Moderate and high risk sports can participate in level 1 as traditionally played, but in order to reach level 2 and 3, those sports need to meet the EEA’s minimum mandatory standards for modification.
To plan activities and minimize risk, facility operators and activity organizers must: limit contact and increase physical distances; conduct activity/sport outdoors where possible; use fewer participants to the extent possible; reduce sharing of equipment and allow for cleaning of shared equipment; incorporate protective equipment (i.e. masks).
The EEA calls for mandatory modifications to limit contact and increase distancing for participants in level 2 and 3. Among them are: stagger starts; eliminate deliberate contact (i.e. body checking, tackling, blocking, racing in packs); minimize intermittent contact (i.e. throw-ins, scrums, restarts).
For sports that cannot modify play to limit contact and increase distancing, they can modify level 2 but cannot proceed to level 3.
Among the guidelines for modifying level 2 are: activities can be held in cohorts no larger than 10; cohorts must remain the same for every training session; cohorts must be separated in all directions by at least 14 feet.
The EEA’s capacity limits for competitions remain relatively unchanged. For outdoor events, no more than 25 players can be on a playing surface and no more than 50 people can attend. For indoor events, no more than 25 players can be on a playing area and capacity cannot exceed 40%. Spectators must wear masks and stay 6-feet apart.
Masks must also be worn by participants, on the sidelines and in games wherever possible. “For example, soccer players should have facial coverings with them at all times, and where possible play with the facial covering on, removing it for long runs down the field, for plays without close contact, and in the goal.
Coaches, staff and officials are also required to wear masks. Safety standards and protocols also must continue to be followed.
Mike Moran can be reached at mmoran@gazettenet.com. Follow on Twitter @mikemoranDHG.