Updated on January 14, 2022 (Newest updates in BLUE)
Shown below are College Squash Association’s current guidelines related to COVID-19 mitigation on member institutions’ campuses. These guidelines apply to all CSA teams – both varsity and club. In cases where CSA has not stated a requirement, state, local, and institutional policies take precedence, but it expected that institutions will consult CSA (and US Squash) guidance in squash-specific situations.
When discrepancies arise in COVID-19 policies between two competing teams, the policy of the home team or the host venue/locality will apply. If a policy disagreement threatens the viability of a match and a resolution cannot be reached, teams should alert the CSA League Commissioner.
For full squash participation policies published by the national governing body, US Squash, please visit this site.
Vaccine Requirements
For the 2021-2022 season, the CSA will require all student-athletes, athletics personnel, and match officials to be fully vaccinated with a CDC-authorized COVID-19 vaccine. CSA’s definition of “fully vaccinated” matches the definition updated by the NCAA on Jan. 6, 2022. This includes the expectation that team players and personnel receive a booster vaccine as soon as they are eligible.
Student-athletes and athletics personnel can apply for an exemption from the vaccination requirement for medical or religious reasons only. A student-athlete’s eligibility for such a waiver will be decided by the institution at which they are enrolled.
Athletics Sports Medicine personnel at member institutions are responsible for ensuring that non-vaccinated individuals fully comply with their institution’s policy for testing and masking of non-vaccinated individuals. Each institution must attest that all institutional representatives have been either vaccinated or tested in accordance with this policy.
Testing
All vaccinated individuals affiliated with CSA teams must participate in the expected testing regimen of their institution. If, for example, only a percentage of vaccinated students are selected for testing at a school each week, CSA student-athletes must be included in the pool of students who could be selected for testing.
Individuals affiliated with CSA teams who are not fully vaccinated should participate in a weekly PCR/NAAT testing plan or a three-times-per-week antigen testing regimen. If the non-vaccinated player’s team has a competition(s) during a week, the player must have a negative test result in hand before traveling to the site of competition.
- If the negative result came from a PCR test, the test must have been administered within 72 hours (3 days) of the team’s first match start time.
- If that result came from an antigen test, the test(s) must be administered within 24 hours (1 day) of each match start time.
CSA is not currently mandating full test reporting, but the Association does expect that all coaches and student-athletes will act appropriately to protect the health and safety of the college squash community.
If a positive case is detected within a team, CSA expects any other team member or coach who came in contact with that individual to immediately initiate a testing plan and whatever quarantine period that may be required, if any.
CSA Championships Testing Policy: In line with CSA’s status as an organization following US Squash regulations, where the CSA Championships are considered accredited national championships, the CSA expects all Championship participants to test prior to their event according to these protocols:
- Every player and coach must submit evidence of a negative COVID test overseen by medical personnel (PCR or rapid antigen) taken within 2 calendar days of the team’s time of departure to the tournament. One recommended way to fulfill this requirement would be for every member of the travel party to receive a confirmed negative result via a rapid antigen test administered by an athletic trainer prior to leaving campus for the competition, OR
- Participants who tested positive for COVID-19 in the 90 days prior to their event must show documentation of recovery in place of a negative test result.
- If a player or coach tests positive via the aforementioned testing plan directly prior to the championship, they will not be permitted to attend the event. Anyone recently recovering from a positive case must be cleared from isolation by a medical professional before attending.
- If a member of the traveling party feels any COVID-19 symptoms at any point after departing campus, they should immediately isolate and take an approved COVID-19 test as soon as possible.
Protocols for incidents or changes occurring during the Championships will be published closer to the dates of competition.
Masking
All CSA players, coaches, and spectators are strongly encouraged to wear a mask at all times when they are not on court. Players who are on court for a match may play without a mask if they are fully vaccinated and not still within the window of recovery. Players who are granted a vaccine exemption for medical or religious reasons must wear a mask at all times, whether on or off court. *This masking policy may be superseded by institutional policies or local ordinances.
CSA will make every effort possible to stage the championship events at venues where masking while playing on court is not required. Depending on the public health conditions at the time, this may be unavoidable.
Competitions
All emergencies, including a COVID-19 outbreak, that could impact the viability of CSA competitions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the CSA League Commissioner in consultation with the campus administrators involved and the Chair of the CSA Rules & Regulations Committee.
If a team is unable to field a starting lineup with at least seven (7) of the top 12 players from the team’s full ladder, the following steps must take place:
- Team administrators, coaches, and/or team captains must notify the CSA League Commissioner immediately (i.e., as soon as it becomes known that a medical outbreak could adversely affect the ability of a team to compete).
- If the result of the team’s conditions is that a team cannot start at least seven (7) healthy top-12 players, team administrators, coaches, or team captains must submit to the CSA League Commissioner medical documentation signed by a campus health administrator verifying that the team cannot compete due to a medical condition or related impact (for example, quarantine regulations).
- If a full campus is closed or a local authority prevents a team from traveling or competing, formal notice of that closure or prohibition should take the place of the medical documentation.
- If medical documentation is not provided, the team with the outbreak may have to forfeit the contest.
- An institution will be presumed able to field a team for the scheduled contest as long as it has seven (7) healthy rostered players from its top 12 available. CSA will make the final determination if teams disagree about the ability for the match to proceed as scheduled.
- If a match is not playable because too many players are ruled out by the athletic trainer due to COVID-19 implications, team administrators (or their designees) from the involved schools must agree to a rescheduled competition date.
- The decision about the rescheduled contest must be made within three days of the cancellation
- If teams are not able to find a new contest date within the three-day window, the CSA League Commissioner will convene with team administrators to determine a date for the rescheduled match.
- If teams are not able to agree to a new competition date, the CSA League Commissioner will make the final decision about the contest. If a new competition date is not feasible, the match will be deemed a “no contest” without any reflection on the team rankings.
- All competitions – both scheduled and rescheduled – must be played by no later than the Sunday evening prior to the respective team championship events.
For varsity teams, the minimum number of matches required to qualify for the National Collegiate Team Championships remains at 10. The CSA League Commissioner will evaluate situations on a case-by-case basis if a team falls below the minimum number of matches solely due to unexpected constraints like a medical outbreak or restricted travel conditions.
For club teams, the minimum number of matches required to qualify for the Club Team Championships is 6, with at least 4 of those contests coming against different opponents. The same considerations around unexpected constraints may be applied to club teams.
Returning to the Lineup
When a player is ready to return to their team’s lineup after recovering from an illness or injury, coaches should refer to the following steps while using their best reasonable and fair judgment to place the player in the lineup appropriately:
- In order to return to a lineup, a player must receive medical clearance from their team’s doctor.
- The returning player cannot re-enter the lineup in a position higher on the ladder than when they left, unless there is a documented challenge match which supports that move.
- CSA encourages all players returning to a lineup to play in at least 1 challenge match before the next competition, but we understand that that may not always be feasible.
- If, after exchanging lineups prior to a match, a coach wants to raise a concern about the position of a returning player (or any other player), they should write a quick message to the CSA League Commissioner with details about the concern. Coaches on site should discuss the concern and the rationale for the placement of the player(s). The CSA League Commissioner can help broker the conversation, if necessary, after the coaches’ discussion.
- Coaches must be explicit with opposing coaches about how they are using the #10 position on the ladder. If the players at #10 are playing in the correct team order, that match can and should be entered on Club Locker as part of the team score report. However, if one of the players playing in the #10 match is playing out of order for any reason (returning from illness/injury, low roster numbers, etc.), their coach should be clear about that arrangement and the #10 match score should not be entered on Club Locker.
Match Introductions
CSA teams are very strongly discouraged from staging match introductions on court with all participants present in one place, as has traditionally been done. Coaches/Captains are encouraged to be creative and thoughtful about ways to introduce the player matchups while maintaining proper social distancing.
Match Officials
CSA expects all match officials to be fully vaccinated prior to working at a college competition. CSA will not accept vaccination exemption requests from match officials during the 2021-2022 season.
Spectators
The decision to allow spectators to watch an intercollegiate squash match in person will be left to the discretion of the institution which is hosting the contest. CSA member institutions should consider limiting the number of spectators who have access to the squash court area (2 spectators per player is a recommended starting point). Further, if spectators are allowed to attend, CSA recommends that players and spectators remain separated in the facility to the extent that it is possible.
Again, any spectators in attendance should wear masks at all times while in the host facility.
These policies are subject to change based on national, statewide, and local medical conditions, as well as guidance from institutional or conference leaders, US Squash, and the NCAA.
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Written as of February 4, 2021
As CSA teams consider plans to play matches during the Spring 2021 term, there are many factors to consider. This document will outline the recommended measures designed to prevent the community spread of COVID-19 at college squash matches. The information included herein was developed in consultation with US Squash’s Return to Competition guidelines and the Resocialization of Collegiate Sport resources published by the NCAA.
Current Environment
While some squash facilities across the country are opening, they are doing so in geographic locations where it is permitted and in accordance with US Squash’s minimum operational standards. US Squash provides extensive guidelines concerning the ventilation, cleaning, and accredited use of squash facilities, which institutions should consult as they prepare for any intercollegiate squash competition this season.
The CDC continues to refine its understanding of the modes and likelihood of transmission of COVID-19 from one person to another. Extended close contact between people continues to be the primary mode of transmission of the virus, but transmission has also occurred in enclosed spaces with inadequate ventilation, even when close contact was not established. Squash facility managers should examine their buildings’ ventilation capabilities to ensure that they meet expected standards.
Now more than ever, it is imperative that all CSA member institutions and teams follow federal, state, and local health guidelines related to COVID-19. The information provided here is meant to be consistent with scientific and medical guidance available at the time of print and should not be a substitute for medical or legal advice. This document also remains subject to revision as more information becomes available over time.
Mitigating Risk with Face Coverings and Physical Distancing
Physical distancing and universal masking are two of the most effective methods for preventing COVID-19 spread. Some states mandate that a face mask must be worn inside at all times. COVID-19 cases that have arisen from interactions on a squash court all occurred when players were not wearing masks during play. CSA strongly recommends that teams implement universal masking and physical distancing strategies during practice and competition.
Wearing a cloth face mask during college-level play may be difficult due to cardiovascular needs and the introduction of moisture from sweat. Even so, mask-wearing on court is highly recommended, especially throughout the playing facility and during low-stress activities like warm-ups, cool-downs, and drills. Using a phased-in approach to return to training is encouraged, including the active use of functional groups to promote physical distancing and to prevent wider spread throughout a team.
In line with CDC guidelines, CSA does not currently recommend the use of “face shields” as a direct substitute for face masks which directly cover the nose and mouth. It is also noted that masks with exhalation valves do not adequately prevent the spread of COVID-19, according to research.
Testing and Masking Strategies for Competition
Testing strategies should align with institutional and local/state public health guidance and take into consideration factors specific to transmission risk.
For the purposes of this communication, based on current evidence and standards, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing or point-of-care antigen testing performed with a regular cadence should be considered the standard testing methods used by CSA member programs.
Team Travel
So far during the 2020-2021 academic year, the number of spreader events traced back to prolonged team travel in a bus or van exceeds the number of events occurring on planes. Since almost all CSA teams travel via bus or van to matches, precautions like universal masking, physical distancing, and open windows should be implemented when feasible.
Additionally, schools should aim to travel and play the same day to avoid overnight stays. For all travel, prepackaged meals or room service should be considered. If restaurant dining is the only option, consider take-out food or outdoor eating as preferable alternatives.
Additional precautions for travel include:
- Place individuals strategically for all travel, e.g. players sitting in pods or tiers that are used during practice.
- Avoid un-masked time by limiting unnecessary meals and/or food.
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
- Limit group meals and use outdoor locations for group meals, if possible.
- Using “grab and go” meals where possible.
- Limit time in locker rooms and other highly trafficked spaces.
- Adhere to social activity safety measures at all times.
Testing Strategies
Shown below are the recommended testing strategies for CSA student-athletes and coaches who are preparing to play another team in an intercollegiate competition. Teams’ final testing implementation should be devised in accordance with local and state guidelines and with consideration for other factors impacting member institutions’ decision-making. Chosen strategies must account for the necessary return time for test results prior to team travel.
With Universal Masking: If all training and competition are done with universal masking and infection risk mitigation strategies (physical distancing, washing hands regularly, etc.) in place, student-athletes and staff should be tested once weekly by PCR testing within 3 days of a competition or three times weekly on nonconsecutive days by antigen or rapid PCR testing.
Without Universal Masking: If training and competition do not take place with universal masking and physical distancing, all athletes and staff should be tested three times weekly – using any test format – on nonconsecutive days beginning one week prior to competition. Ideally, a PCR test will be administered within three days before travel departure.
When discussing competition between schools, coaches should openly share the testing strategies they are using, their risk mitigation plans, and testing results leading up to competition in a way that adheres to public health privacy laws. If there is a disagreement between teams on the sufficiency of the testing and mitigation strategies being used, the policies of the host institution shall be the prevailing standards for that contest.
Should any players test positive within 48 hours after competition with another team, local health authorities and contact tracers should be informed to help facilitate communication with the opposing team.
Match Officials
CSA recommends that teams do not use outside squash referees to officiate matches during this season. The players on the competing teams should be well-versed enough in the rules to handle refereeing and marking responsibilities. The referee and marker should sit at least six feet apart when the match is active. Alternatively, teams should also consider having only one player complete the refereeing and marking duties for each match.
If it is necessary to hire outside referees for the matches, the hired referees should take every precaution to limit COVID-19 exposure starting three days prior to the match. A referee who has reliable access to testing should seek a test within three days of the match date.
The outside referee should wear a mask during the entire time that they are on site in the squash venue, including during the matches that they officiate. The match referee should handle all refereeing and marking responsibilities, and all team members should physically distance from the referee during competition.
Spectators
CSA strongly recommends that member institutions prohibit spectators from attending matches in person during this season. CSA will work with competing teams to publicize web streaming and live scoring options for their fans. Livestreaming equipment can also be rented from US Squash, if needed.
Any attempt to welcome spectators to the squash venue for a competition must be made according to local and state health guidelines and institutional policies regarding gathering limits.
Match Protocols
The protocols for hosting a match will be different in a world impacted by COVID-19 compared to match-day operations implemented previously. Teams should take the following steps to limit contact between members of opposing teams:
- Access to the playing venue during competition should be limited to players, essential coaching staff members, an administrator from the host school, an athletic trainer, and other essential operations staff members (custodians, maintenance staff, etc.).
- All individuals present should wear a mask throughout the venue at all times.
- Each team should have a designated team room or space within the facility, ideally near or adjacent to the competition courts. Players who need to eat or drink before, during, or after a match should retreat their team’s area before removing their mask.
- The host venue should offer hand sanitizer distribution points throughout the facility, especially near the competition courts where players can use it when they step on and off court.
- Teams should not perform pre-match introductions with more than two opponents on a single court. Methods such as team scoreboards, announcements over a public address system, or pre-recorded video introductions should be used to introduce the individual matches for the contest.
- A new ball should be used for each individual match. The host team should designate a specific place where used balls can be deposited by the winning player of each match.
- All physical contact between opposing players on court, other than regular contact during play, is discouraged. Pre- and post-match handshakes should be replaced by sporting taps of the racquet or other distanced acknowledgements.
- The host team should provide two small storage bins at the front of each competition court for the players to store their belongings during play. Players are encouraged to store their own towels and additional equipment items like racquets, shirts, and masks in the on-court bins to limit the number of times that a player would need to leave court during a match.
- No equipment should be shared, particularly across teams.
- Players should enter the court wearing their mask, store the mask on-court if it will not be worn during play, and leave the court wearing a mask.
- Players must not wipe their hands or arms on the court’s walls during the match. A towel stored on court should be used to wipe excess sweat. Teams can designate an appropriate interval – for example, 20 seconds after every 10 rallies – when players can access their towels.
- Player-coach conferences between games should take place off court in a specifically designated area that is separated from other individuals in the venue or outside if it is accessible and feasible in the limited time available.
- A base level cleaning and disinfecting of the courts should take place between each match. Allowing at least 15 minutes between matches for cleaning and air exchange on court is highly recommended.
- Teams should refrain from using locker rooms, if possible, due generally to tight quarters and low ventilation. Visiting teams should plan accordingly.
All questions and concerns related to testing strategies and match protocols should be directed to the CSA League Commissioner. The Commissioner will consult with the US Squash Medical Advisory Panel to ensure that guidance and future decisions are grounded in vigilance and safety.