Medway & Millis September 2020

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Page 18 Medway & Millis Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com September 2020SportsADs Take Guarded Approach toState Agency’s Sports GuidelinesEDITOR’S NOTE: The Mass.Interscholastic Athletic Association andthe Department of Elementary andSecondary Education issued its guidelinesas Local Town Pages was going topress. Sports for the fall season that arein the lower and moderate risk categoriescan compete with modifications butfootball, competitive cheer and unifiedbasketball are classified as high risk.Those teams can only practice this fallbut their seasons could get underway ina floating season that would run fromlate February to late April.By KEN HAMWEYStaff Sports WriterFour of the area’s veteranathletic directors are taking await-and-see approach to theguidelines for youth and amateurathletics that were announced bythe Massachusetts Executive Officeof Energy and EnvironmentalAffairs (EEA) on Aug. 13.The guidance, issued becauseof the coronavirus pandemic,puts football in a highly doubtfulcategory. The Departmentof Elementary and SecondaryEducation (DESE) is expected tooffer its guidelines soon and bothsets will provide the Mass. InterscholasticAthletic Association(MIAA) with additional insight.To prepare for a fall season, theMIAA’s COVID-19 Task Forcewill have to consider modificationsfor moderate- and high-risksports to allow for competition.If football is played this fall,games would have to eliminatecontact by replacing tacklingwith flags or playing a two-handtouch in a seven-on-seven format.Two options could be thecreation of an additional seasonbetween winter and spring sportsor playing football next spring.Before detailing how thearea’s athletic directors reactedto the EEA’s guidelines, here’s arundown on what’s been spelledout. The guidance classifiessports into three categories —Lower Risk, Moderate Risk andHigher Risk. For the fall, LowerRisk sports include golf andcross country. Moderate Risk fallsports are volleyball, field hockeyand soccer. Higher Risk fallsports are football and competitivecheerleading.Moderate Risk sports arelisted as “sports or activitiesthat involve intermittent closeproximity or limited, incidentalphysical contact between participants.”Higher Risk sports arelisted as “sports or activities forwhich there is a requirement or asubstantial likelihood of routineclose and/or sustained proximityor deliberate physical contactbetween participants and a highprobability that respiratory particleswill be transmitted betweenparticipants.”The EEA guidance lists fourlevels of play. Level 1 is individualor socially distanced activities;Level 2 is competitive practices;Level 3 is games; and Level 4 istournaments.888-818-2028Great Rebates & Financing*Call today and beat the rush!Gas, Oil and AC Equipment Sales & Service*Rebates and financing provided by and subject to Mass Save restrictions and limitationsGARY BROWNKing Philip Regional ADLower Risk sports get thegreen light to participate in allfour levels. That would enablegolf and cross country to competeand hold tournaments.Moderate and High Risk sportscan participate only in Level 1,which translates to no practices,games or tournaments. Thoserestrictions would be lifted ifthey meet “minimum mandatorystandards for modificationto play.”For soccer, field hockey, volleyballand football to practice,the following requirements area must: Training activities mustbe performed in groups of 10or less. These same groups mustbe used for every training sessionor class. Boundaries mustbe marked so that those groupsremain at least 14 feet apart. Nomore than 25 people can be on aplaying surface at once. Groupscan only compete against eachother if they remain separate andno contact occurs.For soccer, field hockey, volleyballand football to competein games, two criteria must befollowed. First, deliberate closecontact must be eliminated. Deliberateclose contact includesbut is not limited to collisions,body checking, tackling, blocking,and racing/riding in packs.Second, minimize intermittentcontact. Game situations that resultin intermittent, close physicalor face-to-face contact must bemodified or eliminated, includingrestarts, faceoffs, throw-ins,scrums for the ball/puck, or similaractivities. These activities maybe allowed if face masks are usedduring contact.Tom Angelo, Franklin High’sAD, is concerned about overreaction.“Too many people arejumping to too many conclusionswithout hearing from all governingbodies,’’ said Angelo, whohas 36 years of experience as aneducator. “Whatever is decided,Franklin High School will beprepared to provide our studentathleteswith a safe environment,by adhering strictly to the properprotocols established by our ownschool district, the EEA, DESE,MIAA and the HockomockLeague.’’Chuck Grant, who’s beenMillis High’s AD for the last 18years, emphasizes that it’s nottime to panic.“No decision has been madeon whether fall sports will becanceled,’’ Grant said. “We’restill hanging in. Other guidelineswere issued in July but these regulationsfocus “on more elaborationand more concerns.’’“There’s still time for the virusnumbers to trend downward,’’Grant noted. “There’s still a lotof data that can be looked at.My hope for Millis and the surroundingtowns is that we givefall sports a try, and that includesfootball. We’ll all deal with thechanges needed to minimizethe spread of COVID-19. TheEEA’s guidance was issued amonth before pre-season practicewould start (Sept. 14). A lot canstill change.’’Gary Brown, King Philip’sAD who previously worked as anTOM ANGELOFranklin High ADassociate AD at Harvard University,says many of the sports offeringsfor the fall at the regionalschool remain intact.“As of now, we’re planning onoffering as many sports opportunitiesas possible for the fall, andthat includes football, soccer, fieldhockey and volleyball,’’ Brownsaid. “Our goal is to offer the beststudent-athlete experience whilekeeping health and wellness asour top priorities. Athletics continueto help student-athletesphysically and mentally whilecompeting in high school sports.’’Brown emphasized that whileathletics are an important elementin youth development, “thebig picture is still the health andsafety of our students, families,communities, our state and nation.’’Matt Baker, who’s in hissixth year as Holliston’s AD, isconcerned the EEA’s guidanceclouds the fall sports picturebecause other agencies haven’tweighed in.“When I first heard there wasguidance regarding athletics, myhope was it would start to giveus some clarity regarding highschool sports,’’ said Baker, whopreviously worked in athleticadministration at FraminghamState. “I was inundated withcalls, texts and emails. There wasa lot of information everyonewas trying to process and whatit meant for high school sports.But as it turns out, this is just oneset of guidelines being releasedby the state. We’re still awaitingadditional guidance from DESEand the MIAA and until thenwe’re still in a holding pattern.’’
September 2020 Medway & Millis Local Town Pages www.localtownpages.com Page 19SportsParents of a Special Needs Child Have Special Needs, TooAs the parent of a specialneeds child, you know how rewarding—andchallenging—caring for your loved one can be.And even though you’ve got itall under control right now, youcan’t help worrying about thefuture. After all, someday yourchild will have to go on withoutyou, and you know how expensiveit can be to maintain yourchild’s quality of life. That’s whya special needs trust (also called asupplemental needs trust) can bea tremendous source of comfort.A special needs trust is a legalinstrument that helps concernedparents like you set money asidefor your child’s future care. Bestof all, it does it without reducingyour child’s eligibility forpublic assistance programs suchas Medicare, Medicaid, andSupplemental Social SecurityIncome (SSI)1. For obvious reasons,it is important that it be preparedwith the input of qualifiedtax and legal advisors. Let’s takea look at how these trusts work:A trust protects your child’sassets—and eligibility.If your child relies on governmentassistance, it’s importantto know that many of these programshave strict asset limitations(usually $2,000). A special needstrust can keep your child fromexceeding these limits by makingsure any assets he or she wouldotherwise inherit go directly intothe trust. That way, you don’thave to worry about jeopardizingyour child’s eligibility for assistance,and you can be sure thatany money you earmark for hisor her care will be used exclusivelyfor that purpose.You can fund a trust with awide variety of assets.You can use almost any combinationof assets to fund yourspecial needs trust: stocks, bonds,Place your Holiday Inserts today!Contact Jen for Pricing and Reservations:508 570 6544 oremail: jenschofield@localtownpages.comreal estate—even the proceedsfrom a life insurance policy (providedyou name the trust as thebeneficiary). In fact, a whole lifeinsurance policy can be a costeffectiveway to fund the trust,since they both pay a death benefit(provided premium requirementsare met) and any cashvalue they generate will continueto grow tax-deferred until yourdeath.Make sure you use a qualifiedprofessional.Your child’s future is too importantto leave anything tochance. While special needs trustshave been around for years, theyare complex legal instrumentsthat have to be set up properly.Be sure to work with an attorney1who has plenty of experience inthis area, as well as a thoroughknowledge of wills and estates.It takes a special person to carefor a special needs child—and toadequately prepare for the child’sfuture. With a special needs trust,you can take comfort in the factthat you have done everythingyou can to give your child the resourceshe or she will need to leada long and happy life.1Neither New York Life nor itsagents or employees provide tax or legaladvice. Please consult your tax and legaladvisors before taking any action.This educational third-party articleis provided as a courtesy by MichaelDamon, Agent, New York Life InsuranceCompany. To learn more about theinformation or topics discussed, pleasecontact Michael Damon at (508)321-2101.We’ll help showyou the wayto financialsecurity. Nomap necessary.John’sfamily owned and operated for 45 yearsAttention HomeownersAdd some CoLor to your Home!Will social distance and wear mask and glovesto ensure comfort of clients.We know colors!Interior & Exterior PaintingKitchen Cabinets RefinishedPowerwash & Handyman Skills2 Old Fuddy Duddy Painters with 30+ years experienceSAVING MARRIAGES ONE HOME AT A TIME!Call for an Estimate • BILL 508-868-5226Birkenstockrepair centerSuperior Shoe & Boot Repair21E CharlEs strEEt, holliston, Ma 01746839a Main strEEt (rt. 20), WalthaM, MaCErtifiED in PEDorthiCs/orthoPEDiC shoE MoDssPECializing in laDiEs high hEEl tiP rEPlaCEMEnttall Horse riding Boot Zipper specialistwww.superiorshoerepair.comJohn ElhiloW, C.PED, o.s.t. (508) 429-2038Damon Financial, LLC**Michael T. DamonFinancial Adviser*45 Milford Street, Suite 3Medway, MA 02053(508) 321-2101Mike@DamonFinancial.comDamonFinancial.comInsure. Prepare. Retire.Contact me for acomplimentaryportfolio review.DAMONFINANCIAL, LLCProud to OfferRegistered Representative offering investments through NYLIFE Securities LLC (member FINRA/SIPC), A licensed InsuranceAgency and wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Insurance and an agent licensed to sell insurance through New YorkLife Insurance Company and may be licensed to sell insurance through various other independent unaffiliated companies.*Financial Adviser offering investment advisory Services through Eagle Strategies LLC, a Registered Investment Adviser.Eagle Strategies LLC is a New York Life Company** Damon Financial, LLC is not owned or operated by New York Life Insurance Company/Eagle Strategies LLC/NYLIFESecurities LLC, or its affiliates.
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