RIDOH, RIIL clear way for winter school sports with some pandemic mandates in place
East Providence will adhere to restricting fans from attending games
EAST PROVIDENCE — Most East Providence High School winter sports teams attempt to start their respective 2021 seasons this week, doing so with COVID-19 pandemic health and safety protocols …
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RIDOH, RIIL clear way for winter school sports with some pandemic mandates in place
East Providence will adhere to restricting fans from attending games
EAST PROVIDENCE — Most East Providence High School winter sports teams attempt to start their respective 2021 seasons this week, doing so with COVID-19 pandemic health and safety protocols instituted by the State Department of Health and Rhode Island Interscholastic League in place.
The state released its “Phase III” reopening guidelines for youth, adult and school sports early Wednesday morning, Jan. 20 (see attached).
In response, the Interscholastic League similarly updated its guidelines for a return to competition as follows:
Each winter sports team must have completed the required number of practices prior to their first competition
All student-athletes, coaches, and staff taking part in RIIL sports activities are strongly advised to obtain a COVID-19 test weekly except in cases where they have tested positive within the past 90 days. Testing can be done as part of an in-school testing program or student-athletes, coaches and staff may obtain a test at one of the many statewide testing sites available throughout Rhode Island.
The winter season, including playoffs, is expected to last through the month of February if there are no outbreaks of viral spread over the next several weeks.
EPHS boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ swimming, boys’ and girls’ indoor track and gymnastics each have events which were scheduled to begin Thursday night, Jan. 21, with girls’ hoops at home against Shea.
Following Wednesday’s announcements, East Providence District Athletic Director Gregg Amore said attempts were being made to change the girls’ basketball game set for January 21 to sometime this upcoming weekend.
In addition, the RIDOH and RIIL slightly altered the number of spectators being allowed to attend games, but out an abundance of caution Amore said East Providence will adhere to the initial restriction on fans, the lone exception being for relatives on Senior Night during the last regularly scheduled home contest for teams.
With that in mind, School District Information Technology Director Ben Russell has set up two live streaming links: www.epsd.page.link/hssports and www.youtube.com/channel/UC_b1dCz9KE3fA872NUMZyYg/videos?view=57.
