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NCHSAA mandates masks for athletes in all indoor sports
By Nick Stevens, HighSchoolOT managing editor
Updated November 12, 2020 3:08 p.m. EST
https://www.highschoolot.com/nchsaa-mandates-masks-for-athletes-in-all-indoor-sports/19382752/CHAPEL HILL, N.C. —
Mask usage for student-athletes participating in indoor sports will be mandated by the N.C. High School Athletic Association, according to an email from the association to its member schools.
Effective immediately, all people participating in indoor skill development sessions are required to wear a mask at all times, including athletes, coaches, and support staff.That mandate will extend to volleyball practices and contests beginning next week. All volleyball players will be required to wear a mask, even when participating in competitions.
"A student with a medical condition that would prohibit wearing a face mask during competition will need medical documentation from a physician licensed to practice medicine, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant," the email said.
The changes were made at the recommendation of the NCHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and with input from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Physicians on the NCHSAA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee suggested some students may find it easier to breathe using disposable face masks as opposed to cloth masks.
"Something like volleyball, where there is space between players, but volleyball as you know is played indoors, we already recommend that the athletes wear a face covering if it can be tolerated," said Dr. Mandy Cohen, the Secretary of NCDHHS, on Thursday afternoon during a press conference about COVID-19. "I support wearing face coverings when at all possible, particularly for something like volleyball where you are indoors."
On Wednesday, the NCHSAA informed its members that a mask mandate could be coming.
Previous guidance from the NCHSAA required athletes to wear masks at all times unless they were actively engaged in physical activity. Some schools and school districts had already planned to require masks for volleyball athletes.
The NCHSAA said Wednesday it has received "several reports" of volleyball teams being quarantined. The association said Thursday it will impact scheduling for volleyball, which begins its regular season next week.
"Collectively we must do everything we can to mitigate against the continuing spread of COVID-19, and it is our belief that the above steps will assist those efforts," the NCHSAA told its members on Thursday.