Due to increased exhalation that occurs during physical activity, some sports can put players, coaches, trainers, and others who are not up to date with vaccinations at increased risk for COVID-19.

Vaccinations remain the best defense against COVID-19. Testing and masking remain key mitigation strategies to detect and decrease transmission of COVID-19.

In general, the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower when playing outdoors than in indoor settings. Close contact sports and indoor sports are particularly risky for participants and spectators, especially in crowded, indoor venues.

At a high COVID-19 Community Level, schools can consider implementing screening testing for high-risk activities such as indoor sports and extracurricular activities. Schools may also consider temporarily stopping these activities to control a school- or program-associated outbreak, or during periods of high COVD-19 Community Levels.

If a school has an active outbreak of COVID-19 but remains open for in-person instruction, in consultation with the Local Health Department, some or all school extracurricular activities may need to be postponed until the outbreak is concluded.

For more safety recommendations, refer to the NJ Department of Health's COVID-19 Recommendations for K-12 Schools, Childcare and Youth Camps.

Source: NJ Department of Health's COVID-19 Recommendations for K-12 Schools, Childcare and Youth Camps.