ASAA relaxes stance on requirement for athletes to wear masks

The Alaska Schools Activities Association has relaxed its stance on the need to wear masks during competition.

Earlier this week, ASAA announced that it would require athletes to wear masks during all practices and competitions, including vigorous activity, to help limit the spread of COVID-19. The exception was swimmers while they were in the water. ASAA issued a revision on Friday following further consultation with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. ASAA officials said DHSS clarified its recommendations to match Center for Disease Control and Prevention language.

“ASAA will no longer require masks to be worn while actively participating, but rather recommends a mask be worn if feasible,” ASAA officials said in a statement to Alaska school districts.

ASAA and the Mat-Su Borough School District have required that spectators, coaches, staff members and players not participating wear masks during games and events. The district has also limited the number of spectators at each event.

High school athletics and activities in the Mat-Su Borough are currently on hold. On Oct. 13, the Mat-Su Borough School District suspended all indoor intra-district competition through Oct. 30. That impacted volleyball, and swimming and diving. A prep football senior all-star game scheduled for Oct. 16 was also canceled.

Palmer High School activities director Dale Ewart said local schools have a tentative plan to host the final volleyball and swimming and diving competitions of the season in early November. Earlier this month, ASAA canceled all of its remaining fall championship events (football, volleyball, and swimming and diving), and postponed the start of the winter sports seasons. ASAA did say that districts or regions could complete their seasons with region championship events prior to Nov. 22.

Ewart said Region III’s current plan is to have a swimming and diving championship meet at multiple locations on Nov. 16-17. The region includes swim programs at Colony, Palmer, Wasilla,