Schools
Beverly Joins NEC Neighbors In Giving Fall Sports Green Light
The Beverly School Committee voted Wednesday night to allow competition in "low risk" and "moderate risk" interscholastic sports.
BEVERLY, MA — Beverly became the latest North Shore community to reverse course on a decision to delay fall sports Wednesday night when the school committee voted to allow certain "low risk" and "moderate risk" sports in October.
The vote paves the way for cross country, field hockey, golf and soccer to take place — with modifications due to the coronavirus health crisis— amid the coronavirus health crisis. Beverly joined Peabody, Salem and other Northeastern Conference communities in allowing some sports two weeks after superintendents voted to delay the fall season for all sports until a possible February "wedge" season.
Huge thank you to our school committee for their vote to play sports this fall. Also, shoutout to our student/athletes for their positive proactive actions. Great to be a Panther. Go Panthers
— Beverly Panthers (@BeverlyPanthers) September 10, 2020
The state has moved "high risk" sports, such as football and competitive cheer, to the season set to begin Feb. 22 — with several conferences in the state opting to do the same with girls volleyball and girls swimming since they are contested indoors.
Find out what's happening in Beverlyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Under state guidelines, each school committee must vote whether to allow schools that are starting the year next week fully remote to engage in interscholastic sports. Beverly will begin the school year with a hybrid model for all grades after the school committee initially intended to have those in grades 7 through 12 start the school year remotely next week.
The vote to allow athletics came after Beverly athletes held a rally Wednesday afternoon pressing the school committee to allow them to play. Similar rallies took place in Danvers and Peabody with hundreds of athletes gathering in those communities in hopes of being able to take the field this fall.
Find out what's happening in Beverlyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
More Patch Coverage: Games Appear Set To Go On After All For North Shore Fall Athletes
MA Fall Sports To Look Much Different Under Rules Modifications
Massachusetts School Sports Face Many Obstacles In Hopeful Return
Kids Can Play: But MIAA May Leave Many In Massachusetts On Bench
Support our Fall sports athletes at the rally tomorrow, Sept. 9th @ 4 pm at BHS! #bhs #pantherathletics #WeArePanthers
Posted by Beverly High School PTSO on Tuesday, September 8, 2020
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