CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley Regional School District has suspended fall interscholastic athletic activities.

 

In a press release sent out by the school district on Monday, the administration announced that it has decided to suspend fall interscholastic athletics.

 

"The suspension of interscholastic athletic activities was a difficult decision, but it was made in the best interest of all our students. We want to be clear that the decision was made based on our remote academic schedule and phased-in approach to the start of the 2020-2021 school year," stated the press release. 

 

According to the press release, on Sept. 14, school stakeholders made the decision to suspend all interscholastic athletic competitions for the fall 2020 season. 

 

The decision was made after several meetings with colleagues associated with educational athletics, including the Berkshire County Athletic Directors' Association, Massachusetts Department of Secondary Education, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, Berkshire County Principals and Berkshire County Superintendents' roundtables. 

 

In those meetings, stakeholders discussed various guidelines, format recommendations, and the desire to be fair and equitable all while making safety the top priority during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The press release stated: 

 

"While working through the constraints of delivering instruction, considering various health and safety protocols, organizing labor relations, scheduling facility availability and cleaning procedures, determining transportation feasibility, all while creating, implementing, and delivering a sound educational platform for our students, it was obvious that the suspension was in the best interest of our students, the community, and the district." 

 

The district did approve a conditioning and practice schedule to keep kids engaged in physical movement and provide a sense of "Hurricane Pride and community."

 

Community-based youth sports and travel programs are operating and any resident in the Adams, Cheshire, and Savoy communities is welcome to participate in those outside leagues (which are not affiliated with HVRSD).

 

Hoosac Valley anticipates returning interscholastic athletics later this year with structures that are being considered:

 

Winter Sports: approximately late November to late February. Basketball, Ski (co-op with Lenox), Ice Hockey (co-op with Drury), Wrestling (co-op with Mount Greylock) and Swimming (co-op with Wahconah).

 

Fall Sports II: approximately late February to Early May. Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Golf and Cross Country running (non-competitive)

 

Spring Sports: approximately early May to mid-July. Baseball, Softball, Track & Field and Lacrosse

 

The above "schedule" is the Hoosac Valley's anticipated offering for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year. All scenarios are subject to change given the public health, educational, and athletic circumstances that may arise. Additional communications and meetings amongst stakeholders will take place, beginning on Oct. 29. 

 

In the meantime, the conditioning/practice schedule is as follows:

 

Use of school grounds is scheduled through administration and the athletic directors

 

Use of locker rooms, bathrooms, the concession stand, and admittance to the middle school and high school building is prohibited

 

The Hoosac Valley Regional School District has no formal affiliation, or supervisory role, associated with local recreational leagues, community youth athletic programming, AAU sports, and/or travel teams.

 

Participation in conditioning/practice schedules listed above is a parental/personal/family decision and in no way impacts participation in our proposed offerings for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.