CIAC, Gov. Lamont Encourage Vaccination of HS Student-Athletes

With the Constitution State already in preseason conditioning drills for the start of the high school football season, Governor Ned Led Lamont and the athletic governing body are encouraging high school student-athletes to get vaccinated if they haven’t already.

On Tuesday, Gov. Lamont, along with leaders from the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC), student-athletes, and other state officials, made his address at a press conference at Willow Brook Park’s Veterans Stadium, according to a report from GameTimeCT.com.

“Come on, 12- to 15-year olds. Come on, 15- to 17-year olds, step up,” Lamont said. “We really need you to do it. It’s for your safety and it’s for your team. It’s so that nobody has to step off the field, you can stay involved and keep learning.”

While Lamont did not state that he anticipated the CIAC season will be paused he did issue a statewide mask mandate for all students in kindergarten through high school through the end of September, GameTimeCT.com reported.

“It was a hard decision. We were doing so well for so long,” Lamont said. “I know the masks can be a pain to some people, but given where we are, given what the spreads are right now, given the success of masks had last year … It starts in the classroom. We want you safe in that classroom and want you in that classroom. If you’re in that classroom, you’re learning. And if you’re safe in that classroom, you’re playing volleyball or football or track and field afterward.”

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The majority of CIAC fall sports are slated to begin on August 26 in the state.

Last season, fall sports dealt with many COVID-19 protocols but were able to compete in some way — with the exception of football. GameTimeCT.com reported that in the absence of high school football, independent and 7-on-7 teams began popping up.

To read the full story from GameTimeCT.com on the CIAC and Gov. Lamont urging child vaccination, click here.