New Massachusetts high school sports guidelines: Basketball, hockey and football can compete, but wrestling can’t – Sports – Milford Daily News

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) new high school sports guidelines for winter sports have been released and leaves door open for basketball, hockey to play with modifications.

With modifications, ice hockey and basketball will be able to hold competitions this winter and football has been approved for the Fall II season, according to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA).

Let’s break down what Friday’s release means.

What sports can play games?

Moderate Risk sports — indoor track, swimming, alpine and nordic skiing — will be able to hold competitions, as well as some “higher risk” sports, including basketball, ice hockey and football.

What sports cannot play?

Wrestling and competitive cheer will be able to hold modified practices, but will not be able to hold competitions.

What’s the next step?

The MIAA sport committees will present proposed sport-specific modifications to the Sports Medicine Committee by next Friday (Nov. 13), which will take those modifications to the MIAA Covid-19 Task Force. From there, the Task Force will make recommendations to the MIAA Board of Directors, which will have three school days to vote on those recommendations. As of now, the start date of winter sports is still Nov. 30.

What will the modifications include?

That’s the new million-dollar question. Rumors abound — boys ice hockey is expected to remove checking, for example — but there have been no official announcements about rule modifications to basketball, ice hockey or football.

So what does this mean for football?

It means that unless the EEA releases new guidelines before Feb. 22, football will, in fact, be held during the Fall II season. With modifications, of course.

What does it mean for wrestling and competitive cheer?

Both sports will be allowed to train, but not compete. Training activities must be performed in small groups (cohorts) of 10 or less and the cohorts cannot interact with each other. Training areas must be separated by at least 14 feet and no more than 25 people can be on the playing surface at a time.

My kid plays, will I be able to go to games?

The new regulations allow two adults or siblings per player to attend indoor competitions, as long as the facility remains under 50% of its maximum capacity. For outdoor competitions, like football, schools in Phase 3, Step 2 communities, will be able to host up to 100 fans. In Phase 3, Step 1 communities, up to 50 fans will be allowed. All fans will be required to socially distance and wear masks.