High school sports systems can begin fall training on September 8; on the same day, students return to Vermont classrooms.
But when can the GAMES start the COVID-19 pandemic?In northern Vermont, don’t expect to open the season until the week of September 28, at least seven days after the state’s scheduled start date.
As a component of the state “Strong and Healthy Start” plan, it will reopen in Stage II.State fitness officials plan to move to Stage III, when games are allowed to begin, after two weeks of hybrid learning.
The Northern Vermont Athletic Conference (NVAC), which oversees about 40 schools, has to postpone league occasions until the last week of September for football, box hockey and volleyball.
According to NVAC Executive Secretary Pat Merriam, the purpose of the next start date is twofold: no one knows when the state will move to Stage III, and a later date would give athletes enough time to meet their minimum requirement of 10 eligibility practices.for the game.
“We don’t have to rush things,” said Merriam, also essex’s sports director.”We need to make sure we stick to the precautions and rules of protection before we start opening things and playing games.”
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If Stage III is successful, Merriam said scrums would be allowed this first week. Schools can also schedule games before the 28th if they succeed in an agreement and have fulfilled their pre-season obligations. At Essex, Merriam said he would use the first week to organize logistically.
According to the NVAC plan, the normal one-month season (see below for championship dates) can watch football groups play 8 games and box hockey six.In general circumstances, those sports schedule up to 14 games before the playoffs.
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“We didn’t have to move on to the first week games and then have to cancel them,” Merriam said.
However, NVAC’s southern neighbors take a different approach: the Southern Vermont League, made up of 24 schools, is making plans for openings for the week of September 21.
“There’s so much indecision and things are becoming every day, however, we believe that the faster kids can get into the box to play, the better,” said Tim Brown, SVL’s ceo.
At best, Brown said he expected SVL groups to play at least one normal 10-game season.
Schedules for cross-country and 7-on-7 touch are still being drafted.
More: How COVID-19 will be Vermont High School Volleyball and XC in 2020
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As reported in the past through the Free Press, the Vermont Directors Association has launched a provisional schedule for the fall championships.From now on, the dates of each fall sport:
Bass fishing: Saturday 3 October, place to decide on Lake Champlain.
Women’s Golf: Tuesday, October 6 at Links at Lang Farm in Essex.
► Boys golf: Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Country Club of Barre.
Qualifying tournaments will be held on October 1 at Neshobe (Division I) and Woodstock (D-II).The VPA is preparing to ask the courses to allow them to play in groups of five to minimize the mix of groups and schools; teammates grouped together would be monitored through opposing coaches.And due to the short season, the scores of the team’s practice rounds can be counted for places in championship qualifying events.
Cross country race: Saturday 31 October at Thetford Academy.
The number of races required for runners to qualify for the state festival will increase from 4 to three, groups expecting to be able to compete a dozen times before the championships.The Woods Trail Run at Thetford, a leading regional race, has already been cancelled.
Field hockey: Saturday, October 31, to be determined
The box hockey committee recently extended the normal season for an additional day on October 19.If school lawn amenities are not available for the semifinals and finals, the best places in the school will be used.
Men’s and women’s football: Saturday, November 7, to be determined.
The normal season will end on October 24, one week later than planned.
Boys and girls volleyball: no playoffs.
Football: no playoffs.
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Contact Alex Abrami at 660-1848 or [email protected] him on Twitter: aabrami5.
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