SWINE FLU CONCERNS AND THE POST-CONTEST SPORTSMANSHIP CEREMONY

Nathan Bonneau [NBonneau@miaa.net]

The MIAA Board of Directors spent time during its August meeting discussing the proper leadership to provide member schools with regard to this relatively narrow issue.  The Board conversation was open, including various scenarios and reactions. That Board meeting provided the opportunity to seek advice from the former Chairman of the MIAA Sports Medicine Committee.  Dr. John Richmond, distinguished between contact (e.g. football) and non-contact (e.g. cross country track) sports, and also reminded the Board of the hand-to-ball-to-hand contact which the sport of volleyball ensures. MIAA Wrestling Chair, John Brucato spoke of the relatively little impact of a handshake when considered against the skin-to-skin contact that is inherent in that sport.

Subsequent to the Board meeting, the National Federation of State High School Associations was contacted as a resource.  We were informed that there were no changes within any state association with respect to post-contest sportsmanship activity.

We took advantage of contacts that we have with the Athletic Trainers of Massachusetts (ATOM), and learned that the Board of Directors of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association has not suggested any modifications at this point.  During the same communication, it was suggested that the NCAA had not moved from past traditions.

A review of the Department of Public Health webpage as well as advisories from the DPH and other state and national authorities yielded no specific cautions with respect to the post-contest sportsmanship ceremony.

Contact with the Sports Medicine Committee Chair of the Massachusetts Medical Society, resulted in the observation that this relatively narrow topic may not be nearly as important as deciding whether to conduct competition.  

The Board discussions, along with the aforementioned post meeting “research” leads to the following advisory for your consideration:

1.   Use of hand sanitizer, showering, hand washing, etc. should be encouraged, emphasized, and expected of student athletes, officials and coaches in recognition of the potential flu threat.  (Dr. Richmond had informed the Board that hand-to-hand-to-face was the most likely form of spreading the flu.)

2.   The culminating sportsmanship celebration is important within the context of education-based athletics.  The form this takes should be determined by the participating schools, and may vary by sport and conditions on site.