On Monday, March 16th, the VPA Activity Standards Committee and the VPA staff will have a phone conference to discuss the Spring sports season. You will be sent an email soon after the meeting telling you the results of this meeting. Given recent developments with the Coronavirus situation, we are not sure when the spring season will begin. Spring championships are also affected by graduation dates. Please keep this in mind as you review the calendar. Previous years Calendars: 2018-2019 VPA SPORT Calendar 2016-2017 VPA SPORT Calendar 2015-2016 VPA SPORT Calendar 2014-2015 VPA SPORT Calendar 2013-2014 VPA SPORT Calendar.
MONTPELIER — A return to play is in sight for Vermont high school sports.
In a Tuesday morning news conference, Gov. Phil Scott announced that school-based sports and youth recreation can begin a phased restart Saturday. Due to COVID-19, practices must be no-contact skill and strength focused, and athletes must wear a mask and be physically distanced at all times. With school entering winter break, some teams might wait to start until January.
Vpa Sports Calendar
On Nov. 25, Scott decided to postpone all high school sports indefinitely. The original plan rolled out by the state and the Vermont Principals Association had proposed practices for winter sports to start on Nov. 30, with competition beginning Jan. 11.
“We found out this morning, shortly before the governor’s press conference,” VPA associate executive director Bob Johnson said in a phone interview on Tuesday. “We’re excited. It still does not deal with the issue of games because that will come at a later time, but at least it allows for things to start. It’s what many people wanted, and I think they’ve been looking forward to this.
Alex Omokudu Ministries, Barking, United Kingdom. 131,730 likes 1,051 talking about this 43 were here. Welcome to the Official Facebook page of. The VPA did not give a recommended state-wide start date for fall sports in the email, but rather suggested fall sports coincide with the first day of school. The VPA at this date has not issued a statement with plans of canceling the fall sports season. 'We are proposing that the Fall 2020 season begin on the first student day for a school. This website is powered by SportsEngine's Sports Relationship Management (SRM) software, but is owned by and subject to the Volleyball Players Academy privacy policy. ©2021 SportsEngine, Inc.
“We’re still planning for games and competition. I think a lot of it has to do with what happens between Christmas and New Year’s in terms of the COVID rates. That was something the governor was really focusing on.”
The timeline for full-contact practices and a return to competition is unknown, but coaches are excited to finally interact with their teams.
“I think this year, every practice we have is going to be a victory,” said Thetford Academy girls basketball coach Eric Ward, who organized a small rally at the state capitol Tuesday morning to show that students want to play winter sports. “Whatever happens, just being on the court every day we can is going to be a small victory.”
TA announced earlier in the month that all winter sports would not commence until Jan. 25. Ward is hopeful that with a date from the state, the academy will lift the pause and let kids at least begin conditioning.
“Our team hasn’t been together since March 12; that was our last practice,” Ward said of his squad, which was named a co-champion last season with three other schools when the VPA D-III tournament was canceled at the semifinal stage. “Now we get the go-ahead to finally start some skill work. It’s been too long for them.”
When Scott initially paused sports in the Green Mountain State, COVID-19 cases had risen for two consecutive weeks and the state was bracing for a bigger uptick with Thanksgiving days away. Now new cases have declined after record highs in early December.
Also mentioned in Tuesday morning’s announcement was a return to prior guidance on outdoor activities, such as skiing, hiking and sledding, now allowed between multiple households with social distancing and masks required.
“Let’s go,” said Hartford athletic director Jeff Moreno, who said he’s hoping to have practices begin Monday. “I feel like we can put a plan together to keep (student-athletes) as safe as possible, and I think the kids being in a structured, team-based environment is exactly what they need. I’m happy we can get going with that.”
Vpa Winter Sports Recommendations
Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com.