Student Parties Could Put School Sports Seasons In Jeopardy: AD

MASSACHUSETTS — One Massachusetts athletic director is warning students and parents of the dire implications of large Halloween parties as resulting quarantines and coronavirus spikes could put fall athletic seasons across the state in jeopardy.

Oliver Ames Athletic Director Bill Matthews sent the letter Saturday morning in which he said: "It has come to our attention as school administrators, teachers and coaches, that large social gatherings (yes, parties) are being planned over the next two weekends.

"It is rumored that adults may be hosting these parties, which will involve Easton Public Schools students. According to the state's statistics, these parties have been the root cause of major increases of COVID-19 cases."

Matthews said in a social media post that a school in a neighboring town could be canceling fall sports because of students required to quarantine after similar gatherings.

"Thirty kids get together at a party," he posted. "One diagnosed with COVID-19. All have to be quarantined for two weeks. Close to half of them are athletes. Seven are senior captains.

"Season over."

The state on Thursday issued a two-week moratorium on youth hockey and shutdown of rinks after it said coronavirus clusters were traced back to games and gatherings before and after them at rinks across the state.

"Unfortunately, a very small number of youth hockey players, parents and coaches were having trouble following the guidelines and protocols set forth by the Commonwealth, which is the reason for the shutdown," Salem-Swampscott Youth Hockey President Matt Sachar told Patch on Saturday. "We, the SSYH board of directors, have been working diligently to stay abreast of the most current state-issued guidance and protocols relating to youth hockey and continuously communicating such policies to our players and parents."

The Oliver Ames AD's warning to high school students and parents comes amid rising coronavirus rates across the state. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines state that schools in communities that are considered "high risk" — with more than 8.0 cases per 100,000 people — for three or more weeks should go to fully remote learning until that number goes back down under 8.0.

The guidance said schools that are in fully remote learning must receive an allowance from the respective school committees to continue with fall sports while fully remote.

Fourteen more communities were added to the state's high-risk list this week — bringing the total to 77 out of the state's 351 cities and towns.

"Many communities within the state have been forced to go fully remote and to cancel sporting events because of these super spreader large social gatherings," Matthews said in his letter. "As you are aware, we have worked so hard for our students to have the opportunity to return to school in person and participate in interscholastic sports.

"The feedback from our students tells us they are thrilled to be back in school and playing sports. Participating or hosting such gatherings threaten the future of in-person education and the sports seasons."

"We implore every student and parent to provide leadership within the community to help shut down these gatherings," Matthews asked of OA students and parents. "Think about the serious consequences of holding large parties. Do not allow our children to participate in such events.

"We are counting on our students, first and foremost, to exercise the judgment and social responsibility that has always been modeled for them by the Easton Public Schools."

More Patch Coverage: MA Town-By-Town Coronavirus Stats: High-Risk List Keeps Growing

Massachusetts Suspends Hockey For 2 Weeks Following COVID Spread

This article originally appeared on the Swampscott Patch