Yesterday I sent an email to all of you regarding Governor Scott's order to pause recreational sports. I want to be clear that this includes ALL soccer activities whether they be indoor or out.
Today I am sharing with you a Q&A I received from the STate of Vermont.
Thank you to the many of you who have reached out today to ask questions and clarify understanding of what the Governor's directive means for recreational sports. The updated guidance is now available on the Agency of Commerce and Community Development's website . Below I endeavor to answer the myriad questions I received:
Q: What does today's announcement mean?
A: All recreational sports activities - practices, games, and tournaments - are suspended until further notice.
Q: What sports are covered by today's announcement?
A: Today's announcement applies to all organized sports and competitive recreational sports activities, including youth and adult offerings, held in both indoor and outdoor venues. Specifically, organized sports include, but are not limited to: running meets and races; soccer and indoor soccer/futsal; softball; baseball; lacrosse; basketball; ice hockey; broomball; volleyball; tennis, ball golf and disc golf play with anyone outside your immediate household; equestrian events; bass fishing tournaments; cheerleading; alpine ski racing; freestyle skiing competitions; snowboard racing and freestyle competitions; nordic ski racing; track and field; field hockey; ultimate frisbee; football; crew and double scull; rugby; competitive swimming; bowling leagues; gymnastics; figure skating; team dance; and, wrestling.
Q: When do these changes take effect?
A: At 10p today, Saturday, 11/14.
Q: Are there athletic activities that are NOT covered by today's announcement?
A: Yes. Outdoor recreation and fitness activities which require do not require physical contact with anyone outside your immediate household. This includes, but is not limited to biking, hiking, walking, running and other outdoor fitness activities; horseback riding, boating and paddle sports, fishing, hunting, photography and nature walks.
Q: How does this comport with the guidance recently released by the Agency of Education related to school-based winter sports programs ?
A: Fall school-based sports have ended and winter sports programs may not initiate coach-led practice sessions (e.g., skills and drills work) and inter-squad scrimmages (within a school program) before Monday, 11/30. This date may be revisited if rates of infection and health trends do not show significant improvement between now and later this month.
Q: The Executive Order says it is to remain in effect until 12/15, will there be weekly updates or should we be planning to close until at least 12/15?
A: Addendum #8 to Executive Order 01-20 , issued earlier today, extends the declared State of Emergency until at least 12/15. As the Governor indicated in his remarks today, he is committed to reviewing several of the specific measures identified in the addendum, including recreational sports, weekly in order to determine whether and when the data support a return to play, which may be sooner than 12/15. Please keep in mind, the suspension may also be extended beyond 12/15 if there is little change (or further deterioration) in the rate of infection and other health trends.
If I can answer more questions for you, please don't hesitate to be in touch. I am grateful for your immediate attention to these unfortunately necessary and extremely important public measures.
Sincerely,