hopkinton-independent-logo2x
Hopkinton, MA
loader-image
Hopkinton, US
12:52 pm, Wednesday, March 18, 2026
30°F
40 %
Wind Gust: 9 mph
Clouds: 63%
Sunrise: 6:52 am
Sunset: 6:55 pm

SIGN UP TODAY!
BREAKING NEWS & DAILY NEWSLETTER





High school football in February? It might happen

by | Aug 18, 2020 | Sports, Z-Lead Image Front Page

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association’s COVID-19 Task Force on Monday recommended adjusting the entire high school sports calendar and moving football to a season that would run from late February through late April, according to a report from the Boston Herald.

Monday’s meeting was with Jeffrey Riley, the commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, who could choose to adjust the recommendations before they are delivered to the MIAA board of directors on Wednesday.

Under the plan, the fall season would run from Sept. 14-Nov. 20, and it would be for soccer, fall gymnastics, cross country, field hockey, girls volleyball, swimming/diving (which some districts do in the fall, while others could continue to do in the winter) and golf.

The winter season would run from Nov. 30-Feb. 21 (ending a few weeks earlier than usual).

The new fourth season, for football, cheer and unified basketball, would run from Feb. 22-April 25.

The spring sports season would run from April 26-July 3, later than usual.

The plan also allows districts some flexibility to opt out of the fall season and move all fall sports to the new February-April season.

There likely will be no state championships, with games limited to regional opponents.

Monday’s news follows last week announcement by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, which stated certain sports — football, basketball, ice hockey, wrestling, rugby, lacrosse and competitive cheer — are considered high-risk sports for the transmission of COVID-19. This is due to the nature of the sports, including repeated close physical contact.

There also has been some discussion about canceling all sports until January, then having three abbreviated seasons, starting with winter sports, then fall then spring.

0 Comments

Related Articles

HHS track stars make national mark

Fresh off their state title, the Hopkinton High School boys track team sent a handful of runners to national competitions this month. At the New Balance Nationals, the 4x55-meter hurdles relay team of Braden Lu, Max Keeler, Harry Millar and Jacob Logan raced to a...

HHS 4x55 relay

Photos: HHS athletics signing day

A number of Hopkinton High School student-athletes who are committed to continuing their sports careers in college participated in a signing day last week at the school.

Trevor Blinn

Hopkinton teams win youth basketball titles

The Hopkinton Basketball Association's travel season came to a close Sunday with three HBA Grade 5 teams winning championships in the Metrowest League playoffs. The girls team coached by Jarred Sakakeeny — which includes a few fourth graders — won the Group 5 title...

HBA Grade 5 boys champs

Move In Style Athlete Spotlight: Isabella Racine-Brooks

According to coach Ally Link, Racine-Brooks has been “a constant source of positivity and encouragement” this season, helping the Hillers finish second at regionals and qualify for states. “She never lets fear get in her way of trying new things, always pushes...

New-look HHS gymnastics shines in inaugural season

Bre Vacca has been coaching gymnastics for 12 seasons, but this year presented a new challenge as she took over the new Hopkinton High School co-op team that included Medway, Holliston and Millis. “It was a new group this year, and it was a little bit different,”...

HHS Hillers logo

Hillers boys hockey finishes strong

Hopkinton High School boys hockey coach Joshua Potter acknowledged that the season started slow for the Hillers. It took three games for the Hillers to find the win column, and they still sat below .500 heading into February. But the team rattled off seven straight...

HHS Hillers logo
Key Storage 4.14.22