Published November 19, 2020

NORTH READING — North Reading High School and the Cape Ann League are awaiting guidelines from the state in anticipation of a potential winter sports season. 

North Reading High School athletic director David Johnson and the CAL administrators met on Wednesday to discuss options as they recently received some positive news from the state regarding winter sports such as basketball, hockey and gymnastics. 

Wrestling and competitive cheer were essentially scratched by the state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA). Those guidelines stated that winter sports such as hockey, track, gymnastics, swimming and basketball could potentially have competitions this winter so long as they follow new modifications from the MIAA. 

Those modifications are currently being discussed and the MIAA’s Board of Directors will reportedly vote on them this Friday. 

Like all leagues in the state, the CAL knows that swimming and indoor track will be difficult to hold due to a lack of facilities that could accommodate events. 

As for hockey, early reports from the MIAA’s individual sport committees is that the major changes will take place off the ice in regards to locker room and bench procedures. In-game modifications focus on distancing during face-offs outside of those two participating in the face-off and whistles when a scrum involves more than two players. 

In basketball, don’t expect any jump balls or out-of-bounds plays from under the basket as those will only occur on the sidelines. There will also be changes in how many players can rebound on free throws. 

Masks will likely be required for all sports except swimming. 

Signups for winter sports at North Reading High are now open on FamilyID. 

The topic of winter sports will be discussed at Thursday’s School Committee Meeting in North Reading. 

For now, Johnson is optimistic that many sports will get a chance to play this winter and those that won’t might get a chance in the Fall 2 season which is scheduled to take place starting Feb. 22. 

“Everyone is hoping for some sort of a winter season and if there isn’t, it won’t be from a lack of effort,” said Johnson.