Needs approval of city board of health, would give athletes a chance to play short seasons
By LORENZO RECUPERO
Pending approval from the City of Everett’s Board of Health (BOH), team sports play at Everett High School is scheduled to resume Monday, February 1.
Should the City’s BOH approve the winter schedule, according to the Everett Public Schools, the following sports teams will move forward with a modified season in 2021.
If the vote passes, boys/girls basketball along with coed ice hockey will begin tryouts and a preseason Monday, February 1. The regular season for both sports would start on March 1 and run through April 10.
The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) will not be conducting any state-wide tournaments, but the Greater Boston League (GBL) is exploring a division only tournament to wrap up the year.
Along with Everett High School, the GBL currently consists of teams from Malden, Medford, Revere, and Somerville. If a season and subsequent inter-division tournament are approved, these teams would also match up with Lynn Classical, Lynn English, and Chelsea High School to help bolster the competition.
The latter three schools are not officially in the GBL but are scheduled to join the league in September. According to EPS, The GBL is also looking into a shortened, modified “Fall II” season that would begin April 12 and end May 15. That schedule would include Crimson Tide football, field hockey, boys’ and girls’ soccer, volleyball, cross country, and golf.
In December, the Everett School Committee devised a strict plan equipped with layers of safety protocols in place to ensure sports could continue in Everett during the pandemic, including restrictions on fan attendance, mandatory face coverings for athletes, and other changes. If sports continue in Everett this school year, it will hinge on the school committee’s plan.
An official decision from the Everett BOH is to take place in the coming days.