Hello Newton South Athletes and Families!

Welcome to Fall 2021!

Our athletic facilities are ready to receive 450 students on Monday!

Due to weather conditions, tryouts on Monday are subject to change. Please be on the lookout for emails from team coaches and or check the Athletics page for updates. Golf tryouts for Monday have been canceled and will now start Tuesday, August 24 at 7:30 AM at Newton Commonwealth Golf Course. In addition, Girls Volleyball tryouts have been rescheduled. Please see below for more details. The full tryout schedule for all Fall sports can be found here.

COVID Protocols:

Our coaches are preparing to work with all of you in a safe and fun manner and we are excited that with precautions and safety procedures in place, we will be able to have a full season of play.

I want to share with you the following NPS Athletic Activities COVID protocols that were developed by the district’s central office and the athletic departments of both high schools with the guidance of the NPS Medical Advisory Group, Newton Health and Human Services, and NPS leadership teams.

This document is also posted on our Athletics website page for your convenience.

Your child’s coach also will send you the Fall 2021 Daily CV-19 Attendance Form for checking daily symptoms (Health Self-Assessment tool) ahead of their practices. The form is also posted on our athletic page for your convenience.

Please read the following carefully and let us know if you have questions.

Newton Public Schools High School Athletics 

Covid Protocols

Practices and Games – Back to School 2021

The protocols for athletics at NPS High Schools will be consistent with the big ideas in the NPS 2021-22 Back to School Health and Safety Plan. As we know, the COVID landscape changes rapidly. The NPS Medical Advisory Group, Newton Health and Human Services, and NPS leadership teams will continually review newly available data to inform adjustments to health and safety protocols as needed. The high school athletic program is also subject to any guidelines developed by EEA, MIAA, and/or our athletic leagues. We expect these guidelines to change over the course of the year.

NPS encourages ALL ELIGIBLE STUDENTS AND STAFF to be vaccinated prior to the start of our athletics season.

Consistent with NPS 2021-22 Back to School Health and Safety Plan, everyone inside the building must be wearing a proper mask (not a gaiter) at all times. This includes athletes, coaches, officials, and when allowed, spectators. This applies at “home” and “away.”

Practice Protocols:

Pre-Practice:

• NPS HS coaches will ask each player to complete the COVID self-assessment form noted below, by 12 PM on school days. (Time will be adjusted for pre-season and non-school days.) Click here for the online form.

• Sharing food or drink is not allowed at this time (no cakes, cupcakes, pizza, fruits, seeds, etc)

• NPS will be providing a multi-tiered testing process including routine (Weekly) COVID Pooled Testing: This protocol will be used for all individuals who opt-in to participate in the weekly COVID testing program. Testing will be conducted one time per week.

• To start the year, NPS is currently exploring the requirement for students to either provide proof of vaccination or participation in the NPS weekly COVID testing protocol for participants in middle and high school interscholastic activities and extended theatre productions.

During Practice:

• Team water bottles will not be provided as each athlete will be expected to bring their own water bottle

• Team water coolers will be provided for each team’s practice space. Teams using the same practice facility are prohibited from using another team’s hydration area.

Post Practice

• Equipment that is shared by the team has to be cleaned (using provided spray and paper towels) before it is put away. This is to be done by the team that uses it. Athletes can assist in cleaning when supervised appropriately by team coaches.

• Students are encouraged to bring equipment home and clean it before your next practice when reasonable. Locker rooms may be used but will be supervised and distancing will be utilized where possible.

• Sharing food or drink is not allowed at this time (no cakes, cupcakes, pizza, fruits, seeds etc.)

Game Protocols:

Transportation

Per guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the following health and safety protocols will be in place on all bus and van transportation in the Newton Public Schools:

• Masks will be required on all Newton Public Schools transportation.

• Windows will be open at all times unless not possible due to weather conditions.

Away Games:

Pre-game:

• NPS HS coaches will ask each player to fill the COVID self-assessment form by 12 PM.  (Time will be adjusted for pre-season and non-school days.)

• Covid coaches and/or team coaches will review the self-assessment forms by 1pm, consult with the school nurse when necessary, and keep a student from traveling when appropriate.  (Time will be adjusted for pre-season and non-school days.)

• Team water bottles will not be provided as each athlete will be expected to bring their own water bottle

• Team water coolers will be available prior to bus departure. It is the responsibility of the coaches/athletes to pick up and return water coolers from and to the athletic training room

Home Games: Back to School 2021

Pre-game:

• NPS HS coaches will ask each player to fill the COVID self-assessment form by 12 PM.  (Time will be adjusted for pre-season and non-school days.)

• Covid coaches and/or team coaches will review the self-assessment forms by 1 pm, consult with the school nurse when necessary, and keep a student from playing in the game when appropriate.

• NPS HS staff member or coach greets visiting team – directs them to the appropriate field as needed

• Visiting team head coach is responsible for COVID-19 screening all of their team members and other coaches who will be in attendance.

• NPS HS staff member greets refs; asks COVID-19 screening questions by NPS HS COVID coach or another staff member.

• Team water bottles will not be provided as each athlete will be expected to bring their own water bottle.

• Team water coolers will be available at the home sideline and available upon request to the away team.

Spectators:

Indoor Events:

• • Guidelines for indoor spectators will be developed before our first home regular-season games. Indoor spectator guidelines will be consistent with EEA, MIAA, and League guidelines as well as NPS guidelines for large gatherings.

  • Indoor games will be streamed live.

  • Indoor events include: Girls Volleyball, Unified Basketball, Cheer, Dance, Girls Swim and Dive

Outdoor events:

• • There are no limitations for spectators at this time. However, good health practices should be followed.

During the game:

• NPS HS staff provide any in-game help as needed by refs/coaches/spectators.

Post-game:

• NPS HS staff will ask those in attendance to leave as quickly as possible; assist the visiting team to their bus if necessary

• The guidance regarding leaving quickly is not only to limit the possibility of Covid-19 close contact but also to maintain a positive relationship with the Newton community regarding the usage of Stadium lights

• Game administrators will collect game sheets and pay sheets from referees.

Notification of Film recording

One of the good things we learned through last years’ experience was that our families truly enjoyed the chance to see our games streamed. Numerous families shared with us the joy of sharing their children’s games with relatives close and far. Many grandparents were able to see their grandkids playing a sport for the first time! We will continue to stream live some of the games using indoor and outdoor cameras. The events are streamed through platforms like YouTube. Films of some sports are also exchanged with other schools are required by the MIAA.

Newton has contracted with HUDL to supply the cameras and to store recorded film. As a participant in Newton athletics, it is likely that you/your child will appear on recorded and/or live-streamed video.

Newton takes all reasonable precautions to protect privacy but makes no guarantees or representations regarding the use of your/your child’s appearance on the internet or other platforms by third parties.

Please review the Notification of Film Recording Form, sign in consent, and return it to your coach after teams are selected on August 30. Please reach out to the Athletic Office if you have questions. The form, linked above, is also available under Announcements on the Athletics page.

Revised Girls Volleyball Tryout Schedule

Due to changes in the coaching staff, the tryouts times for volleyball have been adjusted as follows:

Registration: Fall sports registration will open Thursday, July 1. You can find the FamilyID link on the Athletics page website.

ImPact Concussion Testing: Students starting 9th grade, Junior year or who are new to NSHS Athletics must complete the ImPact Concussion Test before starting sports in August. Information about the test is included in the registration form.

Physical Forms: Please note that students must have a physical on file dated no earlier than August 19, 2020 in order to try out.

First day for tryouts are as follows:

Football: August 20

Cheer, Field Hockey, Golf, Soccer, Girls Volleyball: August 23

Dance: August 24

Unified Basketball: September 13

Try-out schedule will be posted online after July 1st