Published in the August 24, 2016 edition
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
LYNNFIELD — The calendar may say summer but it’s officially fall for the student–athletes of Lynnfield High School.
More than 70 football hopefuls began their preseason training last Friday with non–contact conditioning practices and will transition to contact play this week. Candidates for all other Pioneer sports teams return to the playing fields on Thursday, Aug. 25.
The preseason practice schedules vary by team and by sport as follows:
FOOTBALL
The practice sessions remaining in the football team’s preseason schedule is as follows:
• Wed., Aug 24 – Due to school-wide Freshman Orientation in the morning, a single practice session will be held in the evening: 5 p.m.: arrival, 5:15 p.m.: meeting, 6 p.m.: practice.
• Thu., Aug. 25 – Double session: 7 a.m.: arrival, 7:15 a.m: meeting, 8 a.m.: practice, 10:45 a.m.: whole team strength and conditioning, 11:15 a.m.: lunch break, 12:15 p.m.: meeting, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: practice.
• Fri., Aug. 26 – Double session: 7 a.m.: arrival; 7:15 a.m: meeting, 8 a.m.: practice, 10:45 a.m.: juniors/seniors lift; freshmen/sophomores break; 11:30 a.m.: freshmen/sophomores lift; juniors/seniors break; 12:15 p.m.: meeting, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.: practice. The team/family picnic will be held at 5 p.m.
• Sat., Aug. 27 – 9 a.m.: scrimmage at Masconomet; potential practice after scrimmage TBD.
• Mon., Aug. 29 – 3:15 p.m.: regular after school practice
• Tue., Aug. 30 – 4:30 p.m.: practice/scrimmage at Salem.
• Wed., Aug. 31/Thu., Sept. 1 – 3:15 p.m.: regular after school practice
• Fri., Sept. 2 – 4 p.m.: scrimmage at Melrose
• Sat., Sept. 3 – 7:30 a.m.: meeting then practice
• Mon., Sept. 5 (Labor Day) – 9 a.m.: mandatory practice
• Tue.,Wed, Thu., Sept. 6-8 – 3:15 p.m.: regular after school practices.
• Fri., Sept. 9 – 7 p.m.: season opener at War Memorial Stadium, Newburyport.
GIRLS’ SOCCER
Girls’ soccer candidates report to the LHS parking lot on Wednesday, Aug. 24 from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. to collect physical forms and activity slips. Unless otherwise noted, all players are required to arrive to each practice session 15 minutes before it begins. Practices will be held at LHS.
• Session one: Thu., Aug. 25 from 6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.: The whole program reports to the field at 6:15 a.m. with running sneakers and cleats. Goalies will stay for additional training from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Session two: Thu., Aug. 25 from 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Session three: Fri., Aug. 26 from 6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. (Goalies stay from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.).
• Session four: Fri., Aug. 26 from 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
• Session five: Sat., Aug. 27 from 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. (whole program together).
• Mon., Aug. 29/Tue., Aug. 30 from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (all teams practice separately).
• Wed., Aug. 31 at 4 p.m.: varsity and JV scrimmage vs. Danvers at home
• Thu., Sept. 1 from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.: varsity and JV scrimmage vs. Haverhill at home
• Fri., Sept. 2 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (all teams practice separately).
• Sat., Sept. 3 at 9 a.m.: varsity only scrimmage at Melrose.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Boys’ soccer candidates will report to LHS for double sessions on Thu., Aug. 25 and Fri., Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Single practice sessions will be held:
• Sat., Aug. 27: varsity scrimmage at home at 10 a.m.; all others practice from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Mon., Aug. 28 and Tue., Aug. 30, practice from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball candidates will report to the LHS gym for double sessions on Thu., Aug. 25 and Fri., Aug. 26 from 8:30 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Single practice sessions will be held:
• Sat., Aug. 27 from 8 a.m. – noon at LHS.
• Mon., Aug. 29 and Tue., Aug. 30 from 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. at LHS.
FIELD HOCKEY
Field hockey candidates will report to LHS for double sessions on Thu., Aug. 25 and Fri., Aug. 26 from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Sat., Aug. 27: Double sessions will be held at the middle school from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. and at the high school from 10:15 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Single practice sessions will be held:
• Mon., Aug. 29 at 3:45 p.m.: scrimmage at home
• Tue., Aug. 30 from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. at LHS.
CROSS COUNTRY
Candidates for the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams will report to the gym lobby at the high school for five preseason practice sessions:
• Thu., Aug. 25, Fri., Aug. 26 and Sat., Aug. 27 at 9 a.m.
• Mon., Aug. 29 and Tue., Aug 31 at 2:30 p.m.
GOLF
Golf candidates will report to the Sagamore Spring Golf Course on Main Street at 11 a.m. for three rounds of tryouts being held on Thu., Aug. 25, Mon., Aug. 29 and Tue., Aug. 30.
Fees, physical forms due
In order to participate in fall athletics at LHS, student–athletes are required to pay an athletic activity fee of $400. This fee covers all sports for the entire 2016–17 school year. A family cap of $800 covers all athletic and non-sport activity fees per school year.
Unipaygold is the new online payment system used to process athletic and student activity fees. Access it either via the school website or go directly to: https://unipaygold.unibank.com and select “Lynnfield” in the menu. The site charges a fee to pay by credit card, but payments made by check are processed free.
After payment is made and prior to participating in the first pre-season practice, the student must download a hard copy of the activity/athletic registration form via the school website and bring it to the nurse’s office at LHS to ensure the student’s physical form is up to date and the student is medically cleared to participate. Athletes must undergo a physical examination by their healthcare provider within 13 months of the first day of the sports season.
The student must then submit a copy of the activity/athletic registration form to the LHS athletic office. A new form is required each sports season even if the fee has previously been paid. Students will not be allowed to participate in practices until all steps in this process are completed. Athletes must submit their emergency medical contact information form to their coach.
