No High School Sports Vaccine Order Across MA 'At This Time'

MASSACHUSETTS — One year ago, high school soccer players wore masks on the field, were unable to head the ball or build a defensive "wall" on direct kicks, and had to socially distance on the sidelines as part of the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's coronavirus rule modifications.

Football wasn't allowed at all until a makeshift "Winter 2" season that ran from February to April.

This weekend, high school football, soccer and field hockey games will take place outdoors across the state with very few, if any, virus restrictions at all despite infection rates that are approximately what they were late last summer.

One major difference allowing for the relaxed protocols is that all those 12 years old or older are now eligible to be vaccinated against the virus. However, being eligible to be vaccinated and actually getting the shots are two different things, especially when comparing community vaccine rates among teens across the state.

The MIAA Board of Directors this week took one step toward making sure all student-athletes get on the same page when it comes to protection when they voted 22-0-1 to "highly recommend" vaccination for all eligible student-athletes.

The vote fell in line with the recommendation of the Sports Medicine Committee — made up of principals, athletic directors, athletic trainers and medical professionals — but fell short of a vaccine mandate as a condition of participation.

"That came after much discussion in the Sports Medicine Committee meeting," MIAA Communications Director Tara Bennett told Patch. "That is where the committee felt comfortable."

She said the Sports Medicine Committee and Board of Directors sought to keep in line with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which has not ordered vaccinations for all students or recommended ordering them for athletics, band, chorus or other extracurricular activities that require close contact and high respiration "at this time."

"The Sports Medicine Committee felt comfortable that the direction where they wanted to go is where DESE is," she said. "We are very much are in tune with where DESE is. Collaboration and coordination with the two organizations certainly exist."

Bennett said the MIAA supports the National Federation of State High School Associations' #DontMissYourShot vaccination campaign.

Individual schools are allowed to create their own mask and vaccine guidelines for their student-athletes.

In Salem, there is optional pool testing for the general school population, but athletes have mandatory weekly testing regardless of vaccination status, while unvaccinated students 12 or older who engage in extracurricular activities such as sports, band and chorus must be masked at all times while playing outdoors, and must provide written proof that they have consulted with a health care professional on the vaccine.

The issue in interscholastic sports comes when athletes from one school with stricter protocols play against another that might have fewer mitigation efforts.

The Swampscott School Committee had considered a special testing order for sports earlier this fall after school officials said the majority of outbreaks last school year came among athletic teams but ultimately decided enough of the school population participated in athletics that any cases would likely be caught in general pool testing.

Amherst Regional became the first school district in the state on Thursday to order vaccinations for all eligible students as a requirement to attend classes.

Salem Superintendent Steve Zrike indicated Thursday that might be a precursor to more vaccine orders across the state.

"I also think the state may weigh in on to what extent the COVID shot is mandatory," Zrike said during a Facebook Live session. "There have been discussions that there might be some conversations about that either at the local level or the state level."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)