Fall II Sports Restrictions

The Fall II MIAA season will run from February 22 to April 25 and feature sports that were originally supposed to happen in the fall or winter season. These sports face many of the same general restrictions as sports earlier this year, with more specific restrictions. Notably, this new season features football, a sport infamous for its physical contact, and indoor track, cheer, unified basketball and girls’ volleyball. There won’t be any MIAA-sponsored post-season tournament for the Fall II Season. While these sports seemed too risky in previous seasons, it will be interesting to see if these restrictions help eliminate the Covid spread through sports teams. 

General Restrictions: 

• Face coverings must be worn at all times (during play and on sidelines)

  • Gaiters are not allowed

• “Splash guards” can be worn in addition to facemasks

• No pregame/postgame handshakes 

• Team rosters for game day cannot exceed 45 players and a maximum of six coaches 

• Teams need to delineate with a physical marker the social distancing requirements (six feet) for players and coaches while on the sideline

• Game day personnel with an assigned responsibility are the only people allowed on the sidelines

• Injured players are not permitted on the sidelines

• Field equipment should be sanitized after setup and after games

• No more than 25 players can be on one half of the playing field at one time 

• Opposing teams must be spaced 14 feet apart while sharing the field 

• Officials shall use alternative whistles such as electronic whistles (or air horns)

• There will be designated mask break areas 

• Assign a ball sanitizing person for each game

General Spectator Limitations

• Based on current EEA/state guidelines for large crowd gatherings

• Hydration stations (like water fountains) should not be utilized 

Football: 

• Game day rosters are limited to 45 players and six coaches

• Everyone in the huddle is supposed to face in one direction

  • Consider hand signals/signage from the sidelines 

  • Eliminate hand holding in huddles/during anthem

  • Limit close contact and/or huddles when possible 

• Injured players who aren’t eligible to play can’t stay on the sidelines 

• Practices must be outside

• There will be no MIAA playoffs 

• The MIAA Board encourages schools to create regular seasons within leagues or geographic areas to cut down on travel 

• Team time-out and intermission between periods and time periods following a field goal or free kick are extended to two minutes 

• Halftime is ten minutes 

• A coach may only conduct full contact drills up to 30 minutes per week 

  • Full contact is allowed in no more than two practices per week and no more than 15 minutes per day 

Track: 

• Press, spectators, and managers not allowed near the start/finish lines or the field area. 

• Everyone will run in the same direction during warm-ups

• No high-fives or handshakes

• No starting blocks in sprint and hurdle

• Only racing in every other lane 

• Batons disinfected and runners encouraged to wear gloves

• High jump bar and shot put balls must be sanitized

• Competitions can be held at outdoor tracks, using indoor track distances and events 

• No huddling

Volleyball:

• 15 athletes on a team

• No swing players

• Can’t watch the other team’s games

• All equipment has to be sanitized before a visiting team’s arrival

• Benches and warm-up areas should be marked to ensure social distancing

• Scoring tables must also be changed to accommodate social distancing

• At least six game balls need to be set apart from a team’s other balls

• Each team brings own balls for warm up

• Teams remain on the same side of the court throughout the match, as opposed to their usual switching

• When substituting, both athletes must sanitize their hands

• Balls are replaced with a sanitized ball after set

• No line judges

Unified Basketball:

• No halftime, four ten minute quarters with running time

• Timeouts increased to 1:15 to allow proper precautions and sanitation

• Roster can include 15 athletes and partners

• Basketballs wiped with disinfectant at the end of each quarter

• Jump ball at the beginning of game replaced with a throw-in, as determined by a coin toss

• Must use hand sanitizer when subbing in or out

Cheer: 

• Will only perform for home teams

• Warm-up must be six feet away from other teams

• While cheering, must be ten feet away from other people on team

• Stunt groups (including at football halftimes) must be ten people or smaller

• Stunt groups should be kept together and bases/flyers should not be mixed among groups

• Stunt groups must be 14 feet away from other stunt groups 

• No inversions or twisting skills in order to keep mask wearing safe

• When indoors, only allowed to speak at normal volume, but outdoors can speak at elevated volume

Resources to look at for more information:

• https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/01/29/full-list-miaa-high-school-soccer-field-hockey-volleyball-indoor-track-and-unified-basketball-modifi/4312297001/

• https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/19/sports/miaa-track-committee-approves-modifications-fall-ii-season/ 

• https://www.patriotledger.com/story/sports/high-school/2021/01/29/miaa-board-directors-oks-football-modifications-fall-2/4307937001/