Kids Can Play: But MIAA May Leave Many In Massachusetts On Bench

MASSACHUSETTS — An early spring football season, modifications for sports such as soccer and volleyball that could make them look much different this fall, and a spot on the bench for many schools starting the school year with remote learning were all part of a plan the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Directors approved Wednesday morning.

The plan, designed in conjunction with the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, allows some athletes back on the field in September, but includes coronavirus-related restrictions that will relegate many others to the sidelines.

"The recommendations before us may not meet everyone's expectations," MIAA President Jeff Granatino said in a statement. "But they provide a real opportunity for our students to take part in high school athletics for the first time in months."

While athletic directors, coaches and athletes were relieved they are able to allow to do something — anything — starting six months after the MIAA canceled the winter season state championships in basketball and hockey, and ultimately canceled spring sports entirely, the plan approved could significantly alter sports such as soccer, volleyball and even cross country running, while forcing many communities who have deemed it too dangerous to let students back in classrooms to decide whether it is then still OK to let a field hockey team gather to practice each day and travel for games.

And, as has been the case with nearly everything for the bulk of 2020, the regulations are all subject to change based on changing virus levels in the state.

"In many cases, that will mean that inter-scholastic competitions may not look the same and may need to be played under fairly stringent restrictions with modified rules," the MIAA said in a joint statement with the DESE. "Unfortunately, in some cases, competitive play may need to be canceled or postponed. While difficult for everyone involved, it is essential that we keep health and safety paramount, both for everyone directly involved and (for) the wider community."

Football, competitive cheer and other sports the DESE has deemed "higher risk" will be practice-only, with the hopes they will be allowed in a floating spring season, tentatively set to begin Feb. 22 and run through April. If conditions six months from now do allow those sports to proceed, the football players then face the daunting proposition of starting the season in the dead of winter after not having been allowed to play a competitive, contact sport for nearly a year.

Under the plan, those sports will be allowed limited, small-group practices — with the MIAA approving out-of-season coaching Wednesday — this fall to help re-acclimate with the sport.

The tougher calls could come with sports such that can be played, but for which the MIAA sport committees must come up with rule modifications that meet DESE guidelines, which include minimizing unintentional contact and precautions to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing wherever possible.

In soccer, that could eliminate faceoffs, tackling and even competing for 50/50 balls and contested saves. In volleyball, it could eliminate the block at the net where two players line up shoulder to shoulder to block a hitter from a different team inches apart on the other side of the net. In cross country running, it could eliminate group starts and pack running — making the sport more of a 3-mile time trial than a competitive race.

Athletes & parents, I beg you to read & follow the EEA guidance for sports esp social distancing/wearing masks, limited group size and no contact. The battle with COVID 19 is not over. We need to be diligent to keep athletes, families & the community safe.
— Bill Matthews (@OAHSTigersports) August 19, 2020

There will also be no fall tournaments, though individual leagues can organize their own tournaments in adherence with school and community guidelines.

The sport-specific modifications must be submitted for approval by Tuesday.

While many of the modifications may be considered a necessary sacrifice in an unprecedented time, the question of which towns will even be allowed to play those sports this fall appears even more perplexing, as only schools with a full in-classroom or hybrid-learning plans will be able to field athletic teams.

Under the approved plan, towns the state has designed in the red as high-positive towns — which this week included Salem and Wrentham — will not be allowed to field teams this fall under their presumed remote-learning plans. Communities where the respective school committees have approved remote-only learning plans will need approval from those school committees to swim and compete in indoor volleyball and gymnastics when the same school committees already judged it too dangerous for teachers and students to sit inside a school building together.

Schools unable to play any fall sports in the fall would have the option to make up seasons later in the year if conditions change, and if they can schedule a season with other towns that were not allowed to have fall sports.

Under the endorsed plan, the fall season will start on Feb. 18 — two days after the first day of school in the state — and run through Nov. 20. Winter sports — to the extent they are allowed at the time —will run from Nov. 30 to Feb. 21 (about one more shorter than the typical season). The football and cheer "floating season" will run Feb. 22 through April 25. The spring season will start on April 26 and could run as late as July 3.

Related Patch Coverage

• Athletes Take First Small Steps Back On The Fields In MA
• MA Coronavirus: 'Disheartening' Call Made To Cancel Spring Sports
• Coronavirus: MA Cancels State Basketball, Hockey Championships
• MA School Reopening: Masks, Remote Learning Plan Required