Waterford Athletics Update

WATERFORD ATHLETICS 2021-2022 Fall Sports Plan Welcome back to Waterford High School Athletics! We are looking forward to a much more normal return to the fall sports season with all of our fall sports teams competing. However, we are not completely there just yet. As you will see below and in the CIAC fall sports plan, all athletes, coaches, staff, officials, media, and spectators are still required to wear a mask or face covering while inside all school buildings per the Governor's Executive order 13A. Our coaching staff has met and are familiar with the sports plan and will review this information with our athletes and families. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. I am looking forward to a great fall sports season.

The full CIAC fall sports plan is attached in the reference section of this document. Summarized below are the steps that the Waterford Athletic Department will be taking to begin our fall sports season.

SPORTS PARTICIPATION/ELIGIBILITY Registration via FamilyID can be found on the Waterford athletics website.

See academic eligibility details below.

SPORTS PHYSICALS In accordance with CIAC bylaws, sport physicals are valid for 13 months. Yearly sport physicals to assess injury risk and receive health guidance from doctors are critically important.

SPORT START DATES The start date for all sports is Aug. 26th.

SCHEDULING Please view www.ciacmobile.com for your practice and game schedule.

STAYING HOME WHEN SICK Students, teachers, and staff who have symptoms of a potentially infectious illness, such as influenza (flu) or COVID-19, should stay home and be referred to their healthcare provider for diagnostic testing and care.They must then follow the Return to School protocols.

CLEANING & DISINFECTING DPH advises that routine daily cleaning of schools (consistent with standard school cleaning practices), and regular daily (or more frequent if that represents past standard practice in schools) cleaning and disinfection of bathrooms, locker rooms, cafeterias, and health offices, is sufficient to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from surfaces in PreK-12 schools.

HYGIENE CDC continues to recommend frequent hand washing as an additional strategy in schools to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

HAND SANITIZER Sanitizer will continue to be made readily available in the athletic wing of Waterford High School.

MASKING CT Executive Order 13A requires universal mask wearing by all individuals, regardless of vaccination status “inside PreK-12 public or non-public… school buildings… Cloth or disposable face coverings should be worn inside, including travel by coaches, athletes, spectators and officials.

HYDRATION Athletes, coaches, and athletic staff shall be required to bring their own water bottles. Water fountain use shall be restricted to water bottle filling stations only.

Information accurate as of August 24, 2021

WATERFORD ATHLETICS PRACTICES It is expected that athletes make every effort to attend all practices throughout the week.

Students must attend school in order to participate in that day's practice or contest.

COMMUNICATION Athletes/Families should communicate with their coaches regarding practices or team events they cannot attend.

SPECTATORS Spectators will be allowed at all indoor and outdoor contests. All spectators are asked to distance their group from other groups to the greatest extent possible.

TRAVEL TO GAMES If parents choose to transport their son or daughter to and/or from away contests they must complete the TRAVEL RELEASE FORM (click to open link) at least 12 hours prior to the contest for approval.

Athletes are not permitted to drive themselves to away contests. Athletes must wear a mask on the team bus at all times. We will operate at full capacity while maximizing health and safety protocols.

LIVE STREAMS NFHSNETWORK.COM will broadcast all WHS home contests that occur in the fieldhouse and outdoor field turf. (Membership is required (search Waterford) $10.99/month or $69.99/year))

ALL INDOOR CONTESTS: SPECTATORS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS OR FACE COVERINGS AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY DISTANCE THEMSELVES TO THE GREATEST EXTENT POSSIBLE COST OF ADMISSION FOR WHS CONTESTS Adults: $5 Students/Senior Citizens: $2 Children 5 yr and younger: Free COVID-19 In the event that a student/athlete discloses that he/she has tested positive for COVID-19, administration and the local department of health should be immediately notified and the decision tree will be followed and/or consulted with LLHD. COVID-19 Close Contacts In the event that a student-athlete is identified as a close contact, WHS administration will ask for proof of vaccination. Fully vaccinated athletes do not need to quarantine if they are asymptomatic.

Please complete this form by clicking on the link

LOCKER ROOMS Locker rooms will be utilized this fall. Teams will reduce density to the greatest extent possible.

Stagger use and limit time inside locker rooms.

COVID-19 Return to Play Protocol A licensed medical provider will perform a history with emphasis on cardiopulmonary symptoms and complete physical examination. If this evaluation was completed and no contraindications to participation were identified, no further testing is warranted. The patient may then begin a gradual return to play after 10 days have passed from date of the positive test result and at least 24 hours without symptoms off-fever reducing medications View CIAC Fall sports plan below for additional information

ECC The ECC plans to host post season play in fall 2021 competitions.

Information accurate as of August 24, 2021

WATERFORD ATHLETICS ATHLETIC TRAINER/ROOM Athletic training rooms are essential to providing care to our student athletes. Student-athletes should only be in the training room under the supervision of our athletic trainer and/or certified coach and must wear a mask at all times. Athletic trainers will work with the coaches to communicate protocols for the training room, including a schedule for visits by athletes.

OFFICIALS/GAME STAFF Officials, medical staff, and media will self-screen prior to attending any event. Officials will come to WHS prepared to officiate.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE The expectation is for students to be in attendance for every class.

COVID-19 Advisory Committee Building Principal: Andre Hauser School Physician: Dr. Steven Wei Athletic Trainer: Keaton Mangi Superintendent: Thomas Giard III Athletic Director: Chris Landry School Nurse: Victoria Pandolfe School District Medical Advisor: Dr. Ramindra Walia

If your son or daughter will be absent or tardy from school please notify the WHS attendance secretary at 860-437-6956.

References: 2021-2022 WPS Reopening Plan

CIAC 2021-2022 Fall Sports Plan updated 8/12/2021

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Ledge Light developed this decision tree based on the latest guidance from DPH (Addendum 5) click here.

Waterford has a new Athletic Trainer Please welcome Keaton Mangi: I grew up in Poughkeepsie, NY which is located on the Hudson River about an hour and 45 minutes north of New York City. From a young age I was always active. I grew up playing baseball and basketball and then began running track and cross country in high school. I realized that I excelled in track and was determined to run collegiately. This in turn brought me to CT where I accomplished my goal of running for Division 1 Sacred Heart University. Being in the athletic training room throughout my college career, I decided that my calling was to help others in the setting which I love the most. I received both my Bachelor of Science in psychology (2015) and my Master of Science in athletic training (2021) from Sacred Heart University.

Certifications: Athletic Trainer Certified (ATC) Licensed athletic trainer (LAT) Basic Life Support (CPR/AED) Adult mental health first aid.

Information accurate as of August 24, 2021

WATERFORD ATHLETICS

Information accurate as of August 24, 2021