Members of the McQuaid Jesuit Community:

With the fall sports season in full swing, please know that the health and safety of our student-athletes remains our number one priority. We will be following the mandates from the New York State Governor’s Office, the New York State Department of Health, the Monroe County Department of Health, as well as the recommendations of the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) and the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA). Relying on documents from those sources, as well as feedback from medical experts, we have developed protocols, guidelines, and conditions to participation in the fall season.  

We have developed the following conditions and policies to safely balance the need for these high-risk extracurricular activities with our commitment to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for all students.

• During the fall season, McQuaid Jesuit will proceed with teams for football, soccer, volleyball, cross country, crew, and sailing. Right now, we feel confident that we can offer these sports at the Modified, JV, and Varsity levels.
• In the event there are two or more positive tests or active cases of COVID-19 on a team roster, that individual team will automatically undergo a 72-hour “pause” to prevent any additional spread, to conduct contact tracing, and to assess a resumption of practice and competition. Please note that any games canceled because of the pause may not be rescheduled.
• In the event the total number of positive tests or active COVID-19 cases in the entire school community exceeds 20 or more, all athletic activities will be paused for 72 hours.
• Spectators for outdoor and indoor on-campus athletic contests will not be limited.
• Student-athletes will have to fully comply with the McQuaid Jesuit Fall COVID-19 protocols as well as any guidelines specific to their sport. As a reminder, masks are non-negotiable. All student-athletes must always wear a mask when participating in indoor athletic activities.
• If your son has tested positive for COVID, he must receive a cardiac clearance from his pediatrician or primary care physician and, subsequently, complete the 6-step Return to Play protocol with the school’s athletic trainer prior to participation in any athletic activities.

Please know that we must find a balance between allowing these extra-curricular activities as well as our commitment to ensuring the safety and welfare of our families along with our commitment to in-person learning five days a week. McQuaid Athletics asks that we all do our part to curb the spread of disease, including wearing a mask and adhering to proper hygienic protocols. Please understand that these protocols, guidelines, and conditions to participation will be subject to update and review as we gain additional medical and scientific information, including any directives from our local Department of Health. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Athletic Department directly.

Sincerely,

Jonathon Matt, ’02
Athletic Director
McQuaid Jesuit