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Fall Sports Update - August 12, 2020

Dear BBA Families,

Vermont’s Agency of Education (AOE) released the details of their plan to re-open education-based athletics. I was pleased to hear Secretary of Education, Dan French, note the importance of co-curricular activities, including athletics, in fostering students’ emotional and developmental health. 

All involved in the decision continue to highlight our low community transmission rate as the reason for confidently re-opening schools and athletics. I ask that you do your part to ensure that our transmission rate remains low. That is the best contribution you can make towards the success of our school year and athletic season.

A number of important meetings will take place this week to determine league schedules, special rules for individual sports and the format of post-season tournaments. I will continue to communicate information with athletes and families as decisions are finalized.

Important Updates: 
  • Face Coverings will be worn during practices and competitions (with the exception of cross country). This is based on the premise that masks are to be worn when social distancing cannot be ensured. I have asked the athletes participating in summer athletic activities to experiment with a variety of masks so that we can determine which ones are most suitable.
  • Most Fall Sports will move forward with minor changes. Football competitions will be played in a 7v7 format that the Vermont Interscholastic Football League is adapting from USA Football’s model.
  • Once Vermont schools move to Step 3, there will be a five day period before competitions against other schools may begin. During that time we may scrimmage teams from other schools.
  • Hygiene is vital to our success. This includes our Bulldogs doing their part by washing hands frequently (especially immediately before and after practice), cleaning their personal gear daily, laundering exercise clothing and face coverings daily, and showering as soon as they get home from practices and competitions.
  • Our coaches will undergo additional training specific to COVID-19 before working with the athletes.

In addition, please review the important items from my August 9th communication, which are listed below. I look forward to being back at school working with our students and athletes. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of this community and I am confident that when Bulldogs do their part we can meet these challenges successfully.

Sincerely,

Dave Miceli
Director of Athletics

Items from 8/9/20 Update:
  • September 8th is the official start date for Fall Sports. Practice schedules and revised game schedules will be out shortly.
  • We will not gather together for our traditional Parent/Athlete meeting; instead each program will host a parent meeting after practice within the first two weeks of the season.
  • While Vermont schools remain in Step 2 (see A Strong and Healthy Start guidelines) there will be no competitions against other schools.
  • Once Vermont schools move to Step 3, competitions can begin against Vermont schools or teams from quarantine-free travel areas based on the most recent map published by the Agency of Commerce and Community Development.
  • Spectator size is currently limited to 150 spectators per event.
  • Athletes should use this link to register for Fall Sports by August 14th. Please note that it will only work with the student’s burrburton.org email. Head coaches will use these registrations to send out information about their programs.
  • All athletes are expected to practice every day, including on days when they are attending classes remotely. Athletes with transportation issues should contact me at dmiceli@burrburton.org. If we cannot resolve transportation issues, athletes will be excused from team activities on their remote learning days.
  • The new deadline for submitting athletic forms and well exams is Friday 8/14.
  • Burr and Burton requires all Freshmen, Juniors and new students to have an updated Well Exam on file with the BBA Health Office. For the Fall Sports Season, Well Exams must have been completed after November 13th 2018. Due to the possible difficulty of getting in to see doctors, we are willing to grant a one year extension if needed. Please notify our Athletic Trainer, Kelsey Towslee ktowslee@burrburton.org, if you need this extension. Completed Well Exams can be emailed to Kelsey or mailed/dropped off at the office. No athlete will be allowed to participate without one so please plan ahead. All of the other necessary forms needed to participate in athletics can be completed through your OnCampus account. These forms and the Well Exam must be submitted prior to Friday August 14th.
  • Returning Burr & Burton students must be in attendance at the first day of tryouts and all juniors must attend the varsity tryouts.

Fall Head Coaches:
Football: Tom McCoy               tmccoy@burrburton.org
Girls Soccer: Suzanne Mears  suzannemears7@gmail.com
Boys Soccer: Patrick Zilkha     pzilkha@burrburton.org
Field Hockey: Barb Miceli       bmiceli@burrburton.org
X-Country: Tom Klein              tklein@burrburton.org
Mountain Biking: Jon Mowry jmowry@burrburton.org
Boys Golf: Paul Kelly                 pkelly@burrburton.org
Girls Golf: Joan McDonald      joanmcdonald22@comcast.net
Bass Fishing: TBD
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