NORTH SHORE – (Zoom Podcast) This week the Northeastern Conference principals voted to delay Fall sports until the “Fall sports season two” (February). Friday some student athletes protested the decision with an event in Danvers. This week the Salem News sports writers discuss the Northeastern Conference decision and what the impact might be from the Friday student protest. Hear from: Phil Stacey (Executive Sports Editor), Matt Williams (Asst. Sports Editor), Nick Curcuru (Gloucester Times Sports Editor), as well as Bill Newell and Rick Moore from msonewsports.com. Below, find an MIAA statement on Fall sports modifications.
Salem News Reports Erin Nolan
Highschoolers from across the region are protesting the postponement of their fall sports season. pic.twitter.com/BKlM3zOKNC
— Erin Nolan (@erin_nolan_) August 28, 2020
“With everything going on, it would be nice to have at least one thing to give us a sense of normalcy,” one Peabody cross country runner told me. #peabody #danvers pic.twitter.com/BLcvncmVkv
— Erin Nolan (@erin_nolan_) August 28, 2020
MIAA Statement on Fall Sport Modifications August 28, 2020
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) COVID-19 Task Force met virtually on August 27, 2020 to review and approve sport modifications for the fall 2020 sport season. The MIAA Board of Directors approved, at their August 19, 2020 meeting, the formal athletic structure for 2020-2021 season, as well as additional Educational Athletic recommendations provided by the Task Force. These recommendations were developed after months of meetings, discussions, research and collaboration with Massachusetts Governing entities.
MIAA President and Marshfield Superintendent Jeffrey Granatino stated, “It’s exciting that student-athletes and coaches from across the Commonwealth are finally able to prepare for an actual athletic season. The work that the MIAA COVID-19 Task Force and our individual sports committees put forth will allow for these sports to take place in a fashion that adheres to the safety precautions/modifications that have been recommended by the EEA.”
The MIAA fall season will officially begin on September 18, 2020. The following activities were approved by the Board of Directors for the Fall I season: Soccer, Fall Gymnastics, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Girls Volleyball, Swim & Dive, Golf and Dance.
Following this structural approval, individual MIAA sport committee representatives established sport modifications in alignment with guidelines from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the MIAA. These modifications were vetted through the MIAA Sports Medicine Committee (SMC), which includes two epidemiologists who worked with both the EEA and DESE, over a series of three virtual meetings.
The MIAA Task Force unanimously approved all modifications as presented for Fall I Season during yesterday’s sub-committee meeting (8/27/20). These modifications will continue to be reviewed as they relate to current regulations surrounding COVID-19 and may be modified if necessary.
MIAA President Granatino continued, “There’s still a great deal of work to do, but the efforts made to date have been amazing and are why we are now able to provide our students with an opportunity to take part in activities that they love and miss dearly.” All participating MIAA member schools are expected to adhere to these sport modifications.
MIAA Executive Director Bill Gaine added, “On behalf of the membership, I enthusiastically advance pride and gratitude to MIAA Task Force members, the MIAA Sports Medicine and sport committee representatives for their valuable contributions in providing a blueprint for MIAA student athletes to participate in educational athletics this fall season. Stakeholders’ participation, guidance and collaboration with DESE and EEA warrant like appreciation.”
The approved Fall Season 1 sport modifications are located on the MIAA COVID-19 Task Force Page
