Published in the August 17, 2016 edition

By MAUREEN DOHERTY

LYNNFIELD — Athletes aspiring to excel on the playing fields in a Pioneer uniform in the fall of 2016 will report to preseason practices next week.

Football candidates are the only exception as they report to LHS this Friday, Aug. 19. As participants in the only contact sport, football players are required to participate in three sessions of non-contact conditioning practices prior to being allowed to tackle and block opponents.

Practices for all other fall sports teams will begin on Thursday, Aug. 25. In addition to football, Lynnfield also offers girls’ and boys’ soccer, volleyball, field hockey, golf, girls’ and boys’ cross country and cheering each fall.

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. LHS also charges a $300 fee for non-sport activities, however, a family cap of $800 covers all athletic fees and non-sport activity fees per school year.

A new online payment system to process athletic and student activity fees has been implemented using Unipaygold. It can be accessed via the school website or by going directly to: https://unipaygold.unibank.com and selecting “Lynnfield” in the pull down menu.

The site charges a fee to pay by credit card, but payments made by check are processed free of charge.

After payment is made and prior to participating in their 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 athlete’s physical form is up to date and the student is medically cleared to participate in the sport. 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 to be submitted 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 will need to submit their emergency medical contact information form to their coach.

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

FOOTBALL

Equipment will be issued to all football candidates on Thursday, Aug. 18, the night prior to the first practice. This will take place at LHS. Seniors and juniors will be issued equipment at 5:30 p.m. followed by sophomores and freshmen at 6:30 p.m.

• Fri., Aug. 19/Sat., Aug. 19 – Single practice sessions: 7 a.m.: arrival, 7:15 a.m.: meeting, 8 a.m.: practice.

• Mon., Aug. 22/Tue., Aug 23 – Single practice sessions: 7 a.m.: arrival, 7:15 a.m.: meeting, 8 a.m.: practice, 10:15 a.m.: juniors/seniors lift on Aug. 22 and freshmen/sophomores lift on Aug. 23.

• Wed., Aug 24 – School-wide Freshman Orientation is scheduled 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 and freshmen/sophomores break; 11:30 a.m.: freshmen/sophomores lift and 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.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

Girls’ soccer candidates will 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 so practices can start right on time. Practice sessions 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 as follows:

• 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 as follows:

• 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 as follows:

• 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.