EEE threat leads to CHS sports curfew until Labor Day

The 2012-2013 athletic year for Canton High School will be full of new twists, beginning with a change in early season practice times due to the recent mosquito threat, as well as new online registration, a new 13-month physical exam requirement, and a new requirement that athletes and their parents read the school’s concussion policy.

Last month, state health officials raised the town’s risk level for Eastern Equine Encephalitis to “high” after multiple mosquito samples tested positive for the virus. The Board of Health issued an advisory that included tips to avoid mosquito bites, and the state and county recently conducted aerial spraying over the athletic fields and other parts of Canton.

After consulting with the Board of Health and school administrators, CHS Athletic Director Danny Erickson has decided to implement practice curfews for the start of the fall season. Practices must end on grass fields by 6 p.m. until Labor Day, and practices on the CHS turf field must end by 8 p.m.

Erickson said school administrators plan to evaluate conditions after Labor Day and determine how to proceed from there. In the meantime, some of the practice times that were originally posted on the CHS athletic website have been changed. The updated schedule for first fall practices is now available on the website and is reprinted below:

Football: Parents meeting August 16 at 7 p.m. in the CHS distance learning lab. Players meeting August 20 at 4 p.m., practice on the turf at 5 p.m.

Cross Country: Team meeting August 20 at 5 p.m. in the CHS cafeteria; first training August 23 at 9 a.m. at the CHS field house.

Golf: Mandatory meeting August 22 at 10 a.m. at the Galvin Middle School.

Volleyball: August 23 from 5-9 p.m. and August 24 from 2-6 p.m. in the CHS gymnasium.

Boys’ soccer: August 23 from 8-10 a.m. and 6:15 to 8 p.m. on the CHS turf.

Girls’ Soccer: August 25 from 9-11 a.m. and 6:15 to 8 p.m. on the CHS turf.

Field hockey: August 23 from 4:15-6:15 p.m. on the CHS turf.

New Online Registration & Athletic Fees

Instead of registering in person at the athletic office, athletes must now register online using a simple form. Details are now available on the athletic website. Fall sports user fees remain the same as last year. Each sport will cost $195 per student with a $780 cap per family. Payments will be due in the athletic office on September 10 and are payable to the Town of Canton.

Physical Exam Requirements

A student-athlete’s eligibility will now end 13 months and one day after his or her most recent physical of record. In the past, as long as the school had a physical within 13 months of the first day of practice, the student was eligible for the entire season. Physical exam eligibility can now expire in the middle of the season.

Erickson suggested that athletes book a physical well in advance and send a copy of the physical form to the athletic office immediately following the appointment.

Concussion Requirement

No student-athlete will be allowed to step onto the practice field before first reviewing the school’s concussion policy online with a parent. Athletes and parents must also watch a 20-minute video and then sign a form stating they have reviewed the information.

In addition, every athlete is encouraged but is not required to take a baseline concussion test at CHS. There is no cost to the student as it is sponsored by Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center of Foxboro.

New Hockomock League Members

The Hockomock League will welcome two additional members this season as Milford joins the Davenport Division (small schools) and Taunton joins the Kelly-Rex Division (large schools). The immediate impact to Canton will be less non-league scheduling. The only exception is football this year because Milford had prior scheduling commitments. “I think adding the small and large school divisions has been helpful for us the last couple of years,” said Erickson. “The jury is out on adding these two schools. I know that we will lose a lot of non-league scheduling because every member of the Davenport Division plays each member home and away. We will take a wait-and-see attitude.”

New Coaches & Trainer

There will be one new coach this fall as Krista Marr, who coached track and field at Dover Sherborn, will take over as the combined boys’ and girls’ cross country coach. Erickson also anticipates naming new winter and spring track coaches as well as a new head girls’ ice hockey coach.

Kristina Butler will take over as head CHS trainer in place of longtime trainer Dick Staiti, who retired at the end of last season. Butler previously worked as a trainer at Needham High School and has spent the last three years working in the field in Japan. More than 30 applicants applied for the position.

Erickson is planning a CHS Parents Night on September 19 in the CHS auditorium. The time of the meeting will be posted on the athletic website.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Aug 16 2012. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.