Monday, February 1, 2021

Fall 2- "Wedge Season" Registration now open


Today we are excited to be officially opening registration for the 2020/21 Fall 2 Wedge Sports Season.  As has been explained on this blog throughout the year- and has been experienced by hundreds of student athletes this fall and winter seasons,  this season will look incredibly different than any seasons these sports have had in past years.  Due to the guidelines set by the state, DESE, MIAA and through decisions at both the Hockomock League and local level, we will be offering the following sports this Fall 2 Wedge season:

  • Girls Volleyball
  • Football
  • Cheer
  • Boys Indoor Track (OUTDOORS)
  • Girls Indoor Track (OUTDOORS)
Registration information for our Fall 2 Wedge season can be found at the bottom of this blog entry.  However, it is important that all CHS Fall 2 Wedge season families read important details below PRIOR to registering. 

Fall 2 Wedge SEASON DATES- The first day of the season is EXPECTED to be Monday, February 22, 2021.  First contest are EXPECTED to take place during the week of March 8, 2021.  The season will wrap up no later than Sunday, April 25, 2021. 

STATEMENT on WEATHER-
Obviously there will be many challenges with attempting to run football, track and cheer outdoors during this time of year but the CHS Athletic Department is doing everything possible to make this happen. Please understand that, ultimately, safety will rule the day and if conditions are not conducive and safe for outdoor play, the season would be interrupted. No indoor space will be used for football and very limited indoor options are available for cheer and track. If you are registering for any of these sports, please realize that this reality exists. 

The sports that we are able to offer this Fall 2 season will all play under new, modifications and guidelines.  Highlights of these guidelines include:
  • All participants must wear a face covering at all times (this includes during play)
  • All participants must complete a Covid-19 screening daily.
  • No locker rooms or changing rooms will be made available.  All equipment must be taken home nightly and student athletes must arrive and depart CHS in their training attire. 
  • There are strict limitations as to how many student athletes may train together on one field/court, etc.  This could result in roster limitations. 
  • No more than 23 people may be on a school bus. This has caused us to temporarily amend our transportation policy. 
Details of our guidelines as well as sport specific modifications to our sports can be found at the links below.  WE HIGHLY SUGGEST that ALL CHS Fall 2 student athletes and families read these carefully prior to registering. 


The CHS Athletic Department has been working hard to institute practices, guidelines and protocols that will ensure the safest possible experience for our student athletes under these circumstances. We are incredibly confident that we are ready to provide an educational, competitive and SAFE/HEALTHY interscholastic athletic experience for all of our Fall 2 Bulldogs, just as we did in the fall and winter. 

ATHLETIC USER FEE- Due to all of the changes associated with this season's athletic experience, the CPS School Committee approved an adjustment to the user fee for this past fall season. The fee to play a Fall 2 sport is $160. You have the option to pay the fee as you register online, but you don't have to. You can always go back and register in the week or so after tryouts. 

GATE FEES- Given the limited number of spectators allowed at our contests this winter, there will be no admission cost charged at any contest.  Spectator policy for CHS and the Hockomock League for Fall 2 season will be announced in the coming weeks. 

ROSTER SIZES- It is always our goal to get as many students involved in our programs as is possible while still providing a great educational experience. We will be guided by that again this season. However, due to guidelines related to Covid-19, roster sizes for all sports will be limited.  Once we have a list of registered student athletes, we will look at how we can structure our rosters (including tryouts) to meet all health and safety guidelines. 

PHYSICAL EXAMS- It is an MIAA rule that in order to be eligible to participate in Interscholastic Athletics in Massachusetts, we must have a physical exam form on record in the CHS Athletic Office. The exam is only valid for 13 months from the date it was performed. We understand that many doctors' offices struggled to maintain their exam schedules last spring/summer and many held exams using tele-health. Unfortunately, the Mass Dept. of Public Health has ruled that virtual physicals are not acceptable to clear a student athlete for athletic participation. Acceptable physical reports may be emailed to the athletic office or uploaded as part of the FamilyID registration process. 

TRANSPORTATION Policy- CHS has made a temporary change to our policy on transportation to/from away athletic contests.  As has always been the case, CHS will provide bus transportation to/from away contests.  However, this season- parents/guardians may grant permission (as part of the online registration process explained below) for their student athlete to be transported to/from away contests in two additional ways:
  1. Parent/Guardian or immediate, household family member may transport them.
  2. Legally licensed student athlete may transport themselves and any siblings.  
Note- A student athlete who has been granted permission for the alternative transportation, may take the bus to some contests while not using it for others. 

REGISTRATION- Online registration will be open from Monday, February 1st thru Tuesday, February 9th.  NO LATE registrations will be accepted as once we identify those looking to tryout for teams, we will begin planning for how to safely run these tryouts/practices given the number of student athletes interested.  A parent/guardian must register a student athlete during the registration window.  To register- visit our registration page of the CHS Athletics Website. 

QUESTIONS/CONCERNS- If you have any questions about CHS Athletics or registration for fall sports in particular, don't hesitate to contact us at ericksond@cantonma.org, 781-821-5050 x6.

GO DOGS!