High school football season delayed by pandemic begins Monday

SERA: EXCITEMENT FROM THE STUDENTS, THE COACHES, EVERYONE EXCITED TO GET BACK IN THE GAME. IT WILL BE CHALLENGES, ONE OF THEM THE WEATHER, KEEPING SNOW OFF OF THE FOOTBALL FIELDS. BUT ALSO, THEY WILL BE FACED WITH COVID RESTRICTIONS. JEFFREY SMITH: WE’RE JUST GLAD TO BE OUT HERE. WE WEREN’T SURE THIS WOULD TAKE OFF FOR A SEASON, SO TO BE OUT HERE IS EXCELLENT. SERA: NORMALLY A FALL TRADITION, FOOTBALL IS NOW IN FEBRUARY FOR MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOLS, ONE OF A HANDFUL OF STUDENT SPORTS THAT SHIFTED SEASONS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. STARTING TODAY IS THE FALL 2 SPORTS, INCLUDING FOOTBALL, CHEERLEADING, INDOOR TRACK, AND UNIFIED BASKETBALL BILL RAYCRAFT: FROM A COACHING STANDPOINT, IT’S MAKING SURE THE KIDS ARE PREPARED FOR THE ELEMENTS. SERA: MOTHER NATURE WILL BE ONE OF THE CHALLENGES FOR FOOTBALL PROGRAMS, WITH FIELDS COVERED IN SNOW. OVER THE WEEKEND, LYNNFIELD AND WHITMAN HANSON HIGH SCHOOLS POSTED PHOTOS OF SNOW REMOVAL AHEAD OF TODAY’S START OF THE SEASON. AT MALDEN CATHOLIC, THEY’RE EMBRACING THE CHANGE. JEFFREY SMITH: WE’RE USED TO A SEASON BEGINNING VERY WARM AND ENDING VERY COLD, SO NOW WE’RE JUST GOING TO DO IT IN REVERSE. WE ARE KIND OF LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. SERA: THE WEATHER WON’T BE THE ONLY CHANGE. ATHLETES WILL HAVE WEAR MASKS WHILE PLAYING. THERE’S LIMITS TO LOCKER ROOM TIME AND HUDDLES. NO HANDSHAKES OR HIGH 5S. BILL RAYCRAFT: JUST THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WE’RE LIMITED TO THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS ON THE SIDELINES AND HOW MANY COACHES WE CAN HAVE -- ALL THINGS EVERY TEAM IN THE STATE IS GOING THROUGH. TO BE HONEST, I THINK WE’RE ALL JUST HAPPY TO BE PLAYING. SERA: GETTING OFF THE BENCH AND INTO THE GAME, A LONG AWAITED GOAL. BILL RAYCRAFT: THESE ARE THE GAMES THEY’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT FOR YEARS TO COME. SERA: AND ANOTHER CHANGE TO THE FOOTBALL SEASON IS THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ANY POSTSEASON CHAMPIONSHIP RUN. THIS SO-CALLED FALL II SPORTS SEASON GOE

High School football players can don their helmets Monday as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association allows the first conditioning workout of the season, which was delayed because of COVID-19.MIAA's Board of Directors in August decided to delay certain high-risk sports, including football, to a so-called "Fall II" season running from February through April. According to the MIAA's calendar for the football preseason, teams are allowed to begin holding team practices six days a week. Sundays are a mandatory day off. Permissible drills and contact between players are spelled out for each day on the calendar. The first "full contact" practice is set for March 1 with a potential scrimmage on the following day. From March 3 through March 9, coaches can conduct up to 90 minutes of full-contact drills. MIAA rules for the season require student-athletes and coaches to undergo temperature screening prior to workouts or games. Those who experience coronavirus-like symptoms but test negative for the virus can return to the field when they are approved to return to school and any who do test positive for the virus must avoid exercise for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms. All players are required to wear a cloth face covering at all times and gaiters are not permitted for football. Each athlete is supposed to have their own water bottle. Huddles are permitted if players maintain spacing and all face one direction, but hand signals are suggested as an alternative. For indoor planning, such as film sessions, teams are encouraged to limit in-person gatherings and try virtual meetings instead. Other sports included in the Fall II season are cheerleading, cross country, dance, field hockey, golf, indoor track and field, soccer, swimming and diving, basketball, and volleyball.

FRANKLIN, Mass. —

MIAA's Board of Directors in August decided to delay certain high-risk sports, including football, to a so-called "Fall II" season running from February through April.

According to the MIAA's calendar for the football preseason, teams are allowed to begin holding team practices six days a week. Sundays are a mandatory day off.

Permissible drills and contact between players are spelled out for each day on the calendar. The first "full contact" practice is set for March 1 with a potential scrimmage on the following day.

From March 3 through March 9, coaches can conduct up to 90 minutes of full-contact drills.

MIAA rules for the season require student-athletes and coaches to undergo temperature screening prior to workouts or games. Those who experience coronavirus-like symptoms but test negative for the virus can return to the field when they are approved to return to school and any who do test positive for the virus must avoid exercise for at least 10 days from the onset of symptoms.

All players are required to wear a cloth face covering at all times and gaiters are not permitted for football. Each athlete is supposed to have their own water bottle. Huddles are permitted if players maintain spacing and all face one direction, but hand signals are suggested as an alternative.

For indoor planning, such as film sessions, teams are encouraged to limit in-person gatherings and try virtual meetings instead.

Other sports included in the Fall II season are cheerleading, cross country, dance, field hockey, golf, indoor track and field, soccer, swimming and diving, basketball, and volleyball.

High school football season delayed by pandemic begins Monday

TRACKING THE COVID-19 VACCINE

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