Vaccine mandates are extending into inter-school sporting events for those aged 12 and over - meaning some students will be sidelined and principals fear blowback.

A statement from the board of School Sport NZ said its sanctioned events in term 1, 2022 will be restricted to fully vaccinated participants aged 12 and over, including spectators when practicable.

This means some students won’t be able to participate, in some cases through no fault of their own.

"Quite simply, the events on the School Sport NZ calendar will not be able to proceed if Covid vaccination certificates are not being checked," it said.

Upcoming events listed online range from open water swimming and tennis championships to dragon boating and duathlons. Some events have been cancelled, such as the Secondary School Waka Ama Nationals.

Two Taupō principals are trying to get word of the new rules out now, to avoid tense situations on the sidelines.

Tauhara College principal Ben Hancock and Taupō-nui-a-tia College acting principal Richard Murphy are adhering to rules put in place by the Ministry of Education and School Sport NZ, and don't want to see people being turned away because they were unaware of the regulations.

Both said their schools were doing their best to communicate with staff, students and the wider school community that vaccine mandates affect what they can and can’t do during school hours and these rules may differ outside of school.

“You want to avoid situations where students have been singled out or affected negatively in front or their peers or whānau - or if whānau turn up to an event and don't have a vaccine pass when it may be required,” Hancock said.

Nationally, schools cannot currently hold indoor physical education classes. Outside school, any event with more than 25 people attending requires a vaccine pass.

Schools can’t have a vaccine pass requirement for “curriculum-related sporting activities”, the Ministry of Education says.

But operations and integration leader Sean Teddy said the ministry had been working with School Sport NZ and, for non-curriculum-related activities, schools follow the guidance that applies to all other sporting events and activities under the Covid-19 Protection Framework.

“For most activities, the venues are asking that participants are vaccinated and there are limits on numbers able to attend,” he said.

“For curriculum-related sporting activities, schools are prohibited from requiring evidence of My Vaccine Pass, including any parents and caregivers.

“At red, however, it is strongly recommended that non-essential visitors do not attend onsite, that activities with large numbers of students do not go ahead unless held outdoors, and that if students from other schools attend onsite, that 1 metre physical distancing should be observed wherever practicable,” Teddy said.

Hancock and Murphy said they are just the messengers, that Covid-19 restrictions have been challenging for educators and they have done their best to adapt.

Hancock said they don't want to minimise opportunities for young people to engage in sport “...and all the benefits that come along with that - not just physical, but the mental benefits and social interaction as well”.

“Getting the message out there is important - we don't know how many whānau are aware of those mandates and the requirements for sport.”

Murphy said being active is important for students' health and wellbeing and sport also helps foster a positive culture and enhances school spirit.

“The last thing anyone wants is for someone to show up to a game of rugby and be turned away because they were not aware of the mandates.”

School Sport NZ said a survey of principals taken in December last year found 86 per cent of those who responded agreed events must be restricted to fully vaccinated participants only.

Credit: Stuff.co.nz