Published in the August 12, 2015 edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

LYNNFIELD — It’s hard to believe, but Pioneer athletes will return to the playing fields and courts for pre-season fall sports practices in just two weeks.

Football athletes will begin the pre-season with three days of non-contact conditioning practices starting Monday, Aug. 24. Practices for all other fall sports teams will begin Thursday, Aug. 27.

In order to participate in fall athletics, student–athletes are required to pay an athletic activity fee of $400, which covers the entire 2015-16 school year. The fee for two or more athletes in the same family is $800 for the school year.

Starting on Monday, Aug. 24, the Lynnfield High School Athletic Department will begin collecting both athletic activity fees and physical verification forms from fall sports athletes between the hours of 8 a.m. and noon. No activity fees or physical forms will be collected prior to this date.

Prior to participating in their first practice session, athletes must complete a parental permission slip/emergency medical information card and return it to their coach. A new form is required each sport season.

Athletes must also undergo a physical examination by their healthcare provider within 13 months of the first day of the sports season. Prior to participating in any sports practice, an athlete’s updated physical form must be submitted to the school nurse’s office, where it will remain on file.

Pioneer athletes may also register for fall sports online by visiting the “Athletics” page on the school’s website and following the procedure listed. All of the necessary forms to complete the registration process are available online to download. The option to pay the athletic fee online is also available.

The preseason practice schedules vary by team and by sport as follows:

Football

Monday–Wednesday, Aug. 24–26, single conditioning practices (non-contact). Arrive at LHS at 6:45 a.m. for 7 a.m. meeting followed by 8 a.m. practice.

Double sessions will be held Thursday, Aug. 27 and Friday, Aug. 28. Arrive at LHS at 6:45 a.m. for 7 a.m. meeting followed by 8 a.m. – 11 a.m. practice. Go home for lunch. Return for 3 p.m. meeting at LHS followed by 4 p.m. practice.

• Saturday, Aug. 29 – 9 a.m.: Scrimmage at Masconomet

• Tuesday, Sept. 1 – 4:30 p.m.: Scrimmage at home vs. Salem

• Friday, Sept. 4 – 4 p.m.: Scrimmage at home vs. Northeast Metro Tech

Girls’ soccer

Girls’ soccer candidates will report to the LHS parking lot on Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. to collect physical forms and activity slips.

Unless noted, all players are required to arrive to each practice session 15 minutes before it begins or the player is considered late.

• Session one: Thursday, Aug. 27, 6:15 a.m. – 9 a.m.: The whole program reports to the field at 6 a.m. with running sneakers and cleats. Goalies will stay for additional training from 9 a.m.–10 a.m.

• Session two: Thursday, Aug. 27, candidates only: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.; returning varsity: 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

• Session three: Friday, Aug. 28, whole program: 6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m.

• Session four: Friday, Aug. 28, candidates only: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.; returning varsity: 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

• Session five: Saturday, Aug. 29, whole program: 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

Boys’ soccer

Boys’ soccer candidates will report to LHS for double sessions on Thursday, Aug. 27 and Friday, Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Single practice sessions will be held as follows:

• Saturday, Aug. 29: varsity morning scrimmage, time TBA; junior varsity practice: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.

• Monday, Aug. 31 and Tuesday, Sept. 1, practice: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

• Wednesday, Sept. 2, scrimmage: 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Volleyball

Volleyball candidates will report to the LHS gym for double sessions on Thursday, Aug. 27 and Friday, Aug. 28 from 8:30 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

Single practice sessions will be held as follows:

• Sunday, Aug. 30 from 3:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. and Monday, Aug. 31 through Thursday, Sept. 3 from 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.

• Friday, Sept. 4, varsity only: scrimmage at Melrose, 3:30 p.m.

Field hockey

Field hockey candidates will report to the high school for double sessions on Thursday, Aug. 28 and Friday, Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Single practice sessions will be held as follows:

• Saturday, Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

• Monday, Aug. 31: TBA

• Tuesday, Sept. 1 through Friday, Sept. 4 from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Cross country

Candidates for boys’ and girls’ cross country teams will report to the gym lobby at the high school for the following five pre-season practice sessions: Thursday, Aug. 27, Friday, Aug. 28 and Saturday, Aug. 29 at 9 a.m. and Monday, Aug. 31 and Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 2:45 p.m.

Golf

Golf candidates will report to the Sagamore Spring Golf Course for three rounds of tryouts on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 11 a.m.; Monday, Aug. 31 at 11 a.m.; and Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 2:45 p.m.

Fall cheering

Fall cheering practices will be held in the middle school gym, time TBA.