Players who have tested positive for COVID-19 are required to isolate according to the same guidelines as our schools. Please note that after the isolation period is fulfilled, players are required to wear a mask for five days (just like Glastonbury Public Schools). If players are not comfortable wearing a mask while practicing or playing, they can return unmasked after that second five day period has been completed.
Glastonbury Hartwell Soccer Club strongly recommends that parents consult their pediatrician about returning to play, especially if their child experienced moderate to severe symptoms. Below you will find guidance from the CIAC (the governing body for school sports in CT) regarding returning to play after a COVID-19 infection. We strongly recommend that all parents read the following and heed this advice seriously if your child has tested positive for COVID-19 and is planning their return to play:
Return-to-Play after COVID-19 Infection
The CIAC recommends that student-athletes who have tested positive for COVID-19 follow return-to-play guidelines established by medical professionals. Currently, the CIAC recognizes the joint guidance issued by the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) and the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) and the guidance issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as medically reviewed and established guidelines. In consideration of recent studies, the AMSSM and NFHS expert task force updated cardiac assessment and return-toplay guidelines for high school student-athletes with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Compared to AAP guidance, which is broad guidance encompassing all pediatric age groups, the AMSSM and NFHS expert task force explicitly focused on the student-athlete demographic who engage in interscholastic competition. Therefore, the AMSSM and NFHS task force guidance directly applies and appertains to the CIAC’s student-athlete population. The AMSSM and NFHS recommendations (January 2022) include:
• Asymptomatic and mild symptoms: Athletes with asymptomatic infections or only mild symptoms (e.g., common cold-like symptoms generally without fever, gastrointestinal symptoms, or loss of taste/smell) do not require formal medical evaluation or cardiac testing. However, athletes with any specific concerns should checkin with a clinician (e.g., physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or athletic trainer) to determine if further clinical evaluation is needed. Athletes should be 3 days from symptom onset or positive test before beginning an exercise progression (while complying with public health guidelines for isolation).
• Moderate and cardiopulmonary symptoms: Athletes with moderate symptoms ( e.g., fever > 100.4°F, chills, flulike syndrome for 2:2 days) or initial cardiopulmonary symptoms (e.g., chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations) should be evaluated by a clinician. Cardiac testing (e.g., ECG, TTE, troponin) is recommended for athletes with cardiopulmonary symptoms during the acute phase of infection. Athletes with remote infections and moderate symptoms > 3 months ago who never received a work-up but have returned to full activity without symptoms do not need a medical evaluation or additional cardiac testing. Cardiology consultation and cardiac MRI should be considered for abnormal results and as clinically indicated. We recommend athletes are 5 days from symptom onset and that moderate symptoms are fully resolved before starting an exercise progression.
• Severe symptoms: Athletes with severe disease requiring hospitalization, including those diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), should undergo formal evaluation with a cardiovascular specialist prior to starting an exercise progression.
• Cardiopulmonary symptoms on return to exercise: All athletes with SARS-CoV-2 infections should be closely monitored for new cardiopulmonary symptoms as they return to exercise. In general, athletes should feel well as they return to any level of training and exercise. Athletes with cardiopulmonary symptoms when they return to exercise (e.g., exertional chest pain, excessive dyspnea, syncope, palpitations, or unexplained exercise intolerance) should undergo additional cardiac testing (e.g., ECG, TTE, troponin) if not already performed and be evaluated by a cardiologist with consideration for a cardiac MRI or other investigations as indicated.
• Return-to-sport exercise progression: The return-to-sport progression and timeline should be individualized and is based on numerus factors including baseline fitness, severity and duration of COVID-19 symptoms, and tolerance to progressive levels of exertion. Most athletes will require a graded exercise progression. Athletes with systemic symptoms or illnesses of longer duration will require a more gradual exercise progression over at least a few days. Absent special indications, a prolonged return-to-sport timeline is not supported by evidence and further restriction from sports participation can contribute to detraining, increased injury risk, and mental health concerns.
