MIAA: Winter school sports will remain masked

The MIAA is requiring masks for student-athletes, coaches, and officials during indoor events for the winter season, which begins Monday.

“These are minimum required State safety standards that remain consistent with the practices that take place during the school day,” wrote Bob Baldwin, executive director of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, which regulates school sports.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is continuing to monitor COVID-19 vaccination and case rates and has given permission to some school systems to relax mask mandates at schools with a more than 80 percent vaccination rate. Grafton has not met that guideline.

“While masking guidelines may vary at off campus facilities and venues, please treat practices and competitions as school events and adhere to the above guideline,” he wrote. “Further, be respectful of the policies and expectations set forth in school districts and local communities and continue the practice of communicating with member schools that may or may not have reached the 80 percent vaccination threshold.”

Baldwin said the MIAA will be seeking a transition to un-masking during athletic competition during the winter season. DESE will be assessing masking guidelines by January 15, 2022.

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