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When Mimi Duran's field hockey players walk through the handshake line at the end of each game, they don't shake hands with their opponents.

The girls from The Ethel Walker School in Simsbury are not being unsportsmanlike. Because of swine flu fears, the players tap sticks instead.

"When the captains meet [pregame], they say 'Good luck,'" Duran said. "They don't shake hands."

Ethel Walker's players are fine, but their game against Westminster was canceled Thursday because of an outbreak of the flu at Westminster, a prep school in Simsbury.

Two public high schools were closed in the last week because of high absenteeism due to suspected swine flu outbreaks. Guilford had school Oct. 22 and Oct. 23 but suspended all athletic activities until Wednesday. The school was closed Monday and Tuesday.

The schools in Region 10, including Lewis Mills High in Burlington, are closed until Monday.

Coaches and administrators understand that the health of their students — and that of their opponents — is very important. Many are taking steps to try to ensure that the flu doesn't infiltrate their schools or teams.

But for athletic directors, rescheduling games, especially with the end of the season approaching, is tricky. The last day games can count toward the CIAC state tournament is Thursday. "It's an unfortunate circumstance given the timing, that next Thursday's it," Lewis Mills athletic director Dave Tanner said. "It's kind of like having a series of rain dates in the spring. You're crunching everything in at the end."

The Guilford field hockey team was scheduled to play six games in eight days. The Indians' game against Cheshire was rained out Wednesday. The Lewis Mills field hockey team will play four games in four days next week.

Hopefully, it won't rain next week.

Guilford athletic director Chip Dorwin tried to reschedule as much as possible. He wanted to give his teams a chance to finish the regular season. He also didn't want to jeopardize opponents' chances of making the state tournament by canceling games. In most sports, a .400 winning percentage qualifies a team for the state tournament. In the SCC, each team's winning percentage from this season determines next year's scheduling.

"I've been very lucky," Dorwin said. "Colleagues from other schools have been accommodating. Most of the parents and coaches have rolled with the punches."

If games are lost due to swine flu, the CIAC will waive the minimum number of contests a team must play to qualify for the tournament.

But the CIAC will not postpone tournament games because of swine flu closures or outbreaks. An affected team would have to forfeit. This year, the soccer, field hockey and volleyball championships end Nov. 21. Winter sports practice starts Nov. 30.

However, if a school is closed, and the superintendent deems its teams can participate, the CIAC will allow that. For example, the Lewis Mills boys and girls cross country teams will compete in today's state meets.

Most schools are taking precautions, even though the flu hasn't caused them to close.

"We're not overly concerned about [H1N1]," Tolland athletic director and football coach Patrick Cox said. "One thing we've done is there's absolutely no sharing of water bottles. Everyone has his or her own water bottle. We have hand sanitizers when players come off the field. We're trying to stay ahead of this."

At Bulkeley High in Hartford, game uniforms and some practice clothing are being washed in the school laundry. And another precaution with water is being implemented.

"We typically do the game uniforms, but with it being so muddy, we're doing some practice stuff, too," athletic director Diane Callis said. "It can only help with the flu, too. There are teams, like ours, that are using big water coolers with paper cups. Each player gets a drink and throws the cup away. The next player gets a new cup."

In Middletown, the Keigwin Middle School was closed Tuesday through Friday after a 40 percent absentee rate Monday. Middletown High is three-tenths of a mile away.

"Our normal absentee rate is 12 percent; now it's only 14," Middletown athletic director Mike Pitruzzello said. "We did cancel a boys freshman soccer game [Wednesday night] because of the rain and cold. We just thought players would be more susceptible to the normal flu in conditions like that. But right now we're fine."

Courant staff writer Tom Yantz contributed to this story.