UPDATES
• CIAC: Despite the fact that numerous schools in the region remain closed in the aftermath of Irene, the CIAC has not altered its mandatory requirement of 14 practices prior to the first day of competition.
The CIAC says the practice day requirement has been in existence for more than 30 years.
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The only adjustment that it will be making to the regulation is to allow schools to count practices held on Sundays toward the required 14 days. Many schools already practice on Sunday anyway.
Sunday practices have always been allowed, but could not be counted toward the requirement. As always, the holding of Sunday practices will be at the discretion of the local school district.
"Any team that has not conducted 14 days of practice prior to its first scheduled game must postpone and reschedule all games until it has satisfied the requirement," the CIAC said in a statement.
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Football - Darien's scrimmage against Hillhouse, originally scheduled for Tuesday, will take place on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. at the DHS stadium.
• Volleyball: The Darien girls volleyball team will conduct its 20th annual "Play Day" on Sept. 10.
Darien, Southington, Coventry, RHAM, Bunnell, Bristol Eastern, Farmington, East Lyme and Rocky Hill will be participating in the day-long event which features a round robin series of game. Darien is looking to add a 10th team.
Three gyms and four courts are used for the games, which are timed and 45 minutes in length against each opponent.
East Lyme swept Darien in last year's CIAC Class L state final, ending the Blue Wave's nine-year reign as state champion.
The defeat ended a 73-game winning streak for the Blue Wave, who lost for the only the fourth time in the decade (246-4).
Laurie LaRusso, who has won 19 FCIAC titles and 15 state crowns, is entering her 29th season as Darien's coach.
Darien should once again be one of the top teams in the state as it graduated only three seniors from last year's squad -- Mackenzie Begley, Bella Carrara and Emma Getsinger.
• Field hockey: The Darien field hockey team, which won its fourth consecutive state title last season, opens its preseason on Thursday with a scrimmage against Mamaroneck (N.Y.) at home at 3:45 p.m.
Darien has five preseason scrimmages, including its "Play Day" on Sept. 10, and doesn't open the regular season until Sept. 19 at home against Staples.
Darien defeated Hand 3-2 in last year's Class M state championship game to extend its unbeaten streak to 76 games.
• Boys soccer: The Blue Wave play the first of their four scrimmages on Friday when they host Blind Brook (N.Y.) at 3:15 p.m. Next up is the team's annual jamboree on Saturday (9 a.m.) at the Darien High School stadium.
Darien, which was 2-7-6 last year, opens its regular season at Westhill on Sept. 14
Jon Bradley, formerly the Darien girls coach, is entering his first season as the boys coach, replacing Nicolae Piperea, who stepped down in the summer.
• Girls soccer: The Blue Wave play the first of their three preseason scrimmages on Thursday at home against Greenwich (3:15 p.m.). On Saturday, Darien participates in the Newtown Jamboree beginning at 9 a.m.
The season opener is set for Sept. 13 at Trumbull with the home opener against Danbury two days later.
Darien (10-6-1) reached the second round of the CIAC Class L state tournament last season, losing 1-0 to top seed Watertown.
Leigh Parsons replaced Bradley as the Blue Wave's coach. Parsons previously served as the assistant girls coach at McMahon.
If you see anything in our scores, standings, or schedules that requires updating, please email sports editor Bob Birge at bob.birge@hotmail.com
