Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 31, 2022) – USA Ultimate announced today several substantial updates to its COVID-19 Protocols & Procedures.
As the course of the pandemic evolves, USA Ultimate, along with its medical advisory working group (MWG), continues to evaluate and revise its policies and procedures, keeping player and community safety at the forefront.
A summary of the notable changes for updates issued March 31, 2022 is as follows:
- Removal of pre-event proof of vaccination or negative PCR test for interstate events.
- Increased emphasis on state and local health regulations, and on personal responsibility around the use of risk-mitigating measures, including vaccination, testing and masking.
- Adjusted contact tracing and reporting protocols for participants and sanctioned event organizers, including:
- Limiting the identification and exclusion of close contacts to events in progress.
- Eliminating post-event tracking for close contacts.
- Eliminating the need to submit a negative test prior to returning to play.
For more information, read USA Ultimate’s comprehensive COVID-19 Protocols and Procedures.
While these updates represent a significant shift in policy from previous protocols requiring vaccination or testing, they reflect the evolving nature of the pandemic – consistent with recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health departments, the advice of USA Ultimate’s MWG, and the current practices of most other amateur sports organizations.
With most people now having access to vaccines and testing, and as treatments for individuals continue to reduce the likelihood of severe illness or death, along with a decline in infection and hospitalization rates, the approach to managing risk has generally shifted towards one of personal responsibility.
Moreover, the risks associated with participating in a sport like ultimate (outdoors and within a highly vaccinated community) are relatively low compared to the many other daily activities in which people participate.
USA Ultimate, along with its MWG, will continue to review the most recent data and trends and update its policies and procedures accordingly.