KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA has announced its league COVID protocols and policies for the 2021-2022 winter sports seasons. These protocols and policies were proposed by the MIAA COVID-19 Task Force and approved by the MIAA Athletic Administrators Committee.
The MIAA policies winter seasons will continue to follow the general guidance the NCAA has provided to the membership this year. These policies state that COVID-19 prevention and management strategies should be developed at the school and community level, in each case with federal, state and local public health guidance.
Winter seasons will mirror the fall semester protocol in regard to student-athletes. Following this protocol, MIAA Tier 1 individuals who are vaccinated will be exempt from campus COVID testing and exempt from being asked to quarantine unless the individual is exhibiting COVID symptoms or unless vaccinated individuals are mandated to test and/or quarantine per institutional policy. MIAA Tier 1 individuals who are not vaccinated will be subject to campus COVID testing requirements, isolation restrictions following a positive test, and quarantine restrictions as a result of contact tracing.
The MIAA will follow the current CDC and NCAA guidance for quarantine restrictions which suggests a 10-day isolation period. However, quarantine restrictions may end after day seven if the individual receives a negative test following testing on day five or later of the quarantine period.
Attendance policies and mask requirements of athletes, coaches and spectators will be campus-level decisions. The MIAA continues to encourage the use of masks by all Tier 1 individuals, whether vaccinated or not vaccinated, when engaging in nonphysical team activities.
The protocols for winter seasons also include policies on the management of MIAA officials, contact tracing and postponements of contests.
The MIAA offers a fan page on its website to share the campus action plan for each member institution in the Association. The action plans allow fans to see what guidelines, restrictions and recommendations are in place for fans before attending an event on an MIAA campus this fall and winter. The MIAA Fan Page is available here, under the Fan Zone tab on themiaa.com.
The MIAA Athletic Administrators Committee also approved the association’s weighted index formula for the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball seasons. If necessary, the weighted formula will be used to adjust the standings in the final weeks of competition leading up to the MIAA Tournament.
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