March Madness cheerleaders and reporters have to wear masks even though fans don't — here's why

• Fans at March Madness games are allowed to watch their teams compete without wearing masks.
• Cheerleaders, reporters, photographers, and staff close to the court still need to mask up.

Watching NCAA tournament games this year has felt surprisingly normal.

For the majority of each contest, it's easy for viewers back home to forget that the COVID-19 pandemic had ever impacted March Madness in the first place.

As usual, players and referees are shown running up and down the floor without masks on their faces. And now, coaches, too, are mask-free on the broadcast. The Mike Krzyzewskis and Kim Mulkeys of the world can be seen pacing the sidelines without so much as a mask pulled down to their chins, as they and other NCAA play-callers often sported in the past.

Fans are back in the arenas as well, making for a much more normal viewing experience than taking in the spectator-less games of 2021. Even those in the stands are allowed to go maskless, and they're often showcased on screen rooting for their teams without any fabric muffling their cheers.

But then, with one quick pan of the camera, viewers quickly snap back to reality; the cheerleaders waving their pom-poms in the air, photographers shooting behind the baseline, reporters typing away on press row, and officials keeping score along the sideline are all masked.

A representative for the NCAA confirmed to Insider that the men's and women's NCAA tournament "masking protocols are in keeping with guidance from local health authorities and the CDC." In theory, that could vary based on the location of each game site. But thanks to waning COVID-19 positivity rates across the country, every state besides Hawaii — which did not host a March Madness game this year — has lifted its indoor mask mandate.

So why do cheerleaders, photographers, writers, and scorekeepers still need to wear them?

According to an informational document provided to media members covering the 2022 men's South Regional in San Antonio, Texas, the NCAA requires individuals to "be masked when courtside" due to their close proximity to players and coaches. The memo explicitly states that the masking policy has been implemented "for the safety of tournament participants" and makes no mention of local or CDC guidelines.

Journalists and photographers must wear masks while attending formal press conferences or at "any other time when in the presence of coaches and players."

Two additional sources with direct knowledge of this year's tournament policies confirmed to Insider that the same mask policies apply to cheerleaders, dance team members, and scoring table staff as well as members of the media.

There is an exception to the rule, however. According to the aforementioned document offered to media members covering the men's South Regional, "those actively broadcasting" from press row are allowed to remove their masks.

Though unconfirmed, it appears as though a similar rule applies to cheerleaders, dance troupes, and spirit squads while they are performing. Several cheer squad members have been spotted doing their routines without wearing their masks.

Given that players clear off the hardwood when the cheerleaders take the floor, it stands to reason that they'd be permitted to complete their routines sans masks.

The NCAA did not reply to Insider's repeated requests for comment on making policies relating to cheerleaders, media members, and scoring table staff.