High school winter sports can start in December, youth sports told to halt until

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The state announced Friday that it is updating community sports guidelines with the winter sports season quickly approaching.One of the biggest changes announced by the state is mandating masks be worn during practice and competition.Face coverings must also be worn by coaches, staff, officials and spectators.The change is in response to Gov. Janet Mill’s new executive order requiring masks in public settings regardless of whether physical distancing can be maintained.Organizers of sports activities are also responsible for adhering to the indoor gathering limit, which has been lowered to 50 because of the recent surge of the coronavirus in the state.The state also laid out when winter sports activities can begin.For moderate risk sports, such as basketball and ice hockey, skill-building drills or conditioning at home, alone or with household members, can begin Dec. 7.Team-based practices with physically distanced groups and intra-squad scrimmages can begin Dec. 14.Competition between teams from the same geographic area can begin Jan. 11.High risk sports, like wrestling, must stay in drills and physically distanced group activities.Community sports organizations that operate moderate risk sports that might have already started practices or competitions are expected to cease play until the timeline outlined in the guidelines, the state said.Maine Amateur Hockey Association President Mike Keaney said they are suspending all games, practices and other team activities as of midnight. Keaney said they are aiming to return to hockey Dec. 7 in accord with the community sports guidelines.Lenny Holmes, who runs Maine Hoops, which is the biggest organizer of youth basketball games in Maine, has cancelled games for Friday night. This weekend was the last weekend of the fall season. Holmes said they are looking for guidance to see if they can finish their season this weekend. The state and the Maine Principals’ Association have also been working on guidelines for high school winter sports.The announcement from the state does not give the green light for high school winter sports but provides a framework for the MPA. The MPA governs high school sports in Maine.It will also be up to local school districts to determine if their students will participate in winter sports. The MPA said it will be issuing requirements for winter high school sports in the coming weeks.The MPA said the state’s announcement providing a schedule to begin winter sports supports students, their families and schools in planning.The Community Sports Checklist applies to community-based sports clubs, teams, and events.It does not apply to professional and collegiate sports, which are governed by professional and intercollegiate association guidelines as well as applicable executive orders.

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