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Sports

Storm's Effect on Practice Rule Negligible in West Hartford

CIAC stands by its mandatory 14-day preseason practice requirements, but the football teams at Hall and Conard are on schedule for their Sept. 17 home openers.

The multiple effects of Tropical Storm Irene have placed the CIAC's preseason practice rule established for the athletes’ safety under scrutiny, particularly as it pertains to football.

The CIAC's required fall football regimen states that each team must first conduct five days of physical conditioning practice. No protective equipment other than helmets are used and no contact is permitted.

Teams that do not conduct spring football sessions were permitted to begin practice with pads and contact beginning on August 23. Those that do hold practice in the spring were allowed to begin four days later.

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The CIAC requires all sports participants to engage in 14 days of practice – practice with contact in football’s case – that should effectively have them physically ready for the games ahead.

In some cases, practice schedules have been disrupted by the flooding and power outages due to the storm and teams may not be able to get their 14 days in before the first games are slated to take place (Sept. 16 and 17).

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The CIAC issued a statement Tuesday stressing the importance of the rule and expressing the organization's intent to adhere to it.

“The mandatory practice day requirement has been in existence for over 30 years and CIAC believes these days of practice are necessary to prepare teams for competition,” the statement said. “Consequently, the only adjustment that will be (made) to the regulation is to allow schools to count practices held on Sundays toward the required 14 days.”

Practicing on Sundays, it said, is up to the discretion of the local school system.

“Based on advice from medical people, kids have to be properly conditioned,” said Paul Hoey, the CIAC’s associate executive director. “We’re sensitive to [teams affected by the storm] but we won’t put kids in jeopardy. We believe the rule is right. The teams need adequate time and less than 14 days would compromise the health and safety of the kids.”

In West Hartford, power was lost at and during the storm but Betty Remigino-Knapp said there was no extensive loss of practice time and that her schools would not be impacted.

“There was only one day we didn’t have practice,” she said. “We started early because we have no spring practice. We’re in very good shape.”

A downed tree at Hall created blackout conditions but it wasn’t a significant issue from a practice perspective. Remigino-Knapp elected to allow the team to practice outside as power was being restored.

“I feel badly [for the schools that are adversely impacted] but I think most are practicing,” she said. “If a town is a mess, they must stress their emergency planning. There are a lot of factors.

“We’ve been very fortunate. It’s been an inconvenience, that’s it.”

Conard begins its season Sept. 17 at home against South Windsor. Hall hosts Manchester the same day. Remigino-Knapp has not hear anything from the West Hartford schools’ first foes so the football openers are likely to go off as scheduled.

Hoey said Wednesday the CIAC is not yet sure of the problem’s scope. In most sports, an early postponement would have little effect. Games can be readily re-scheduled. But football, where games are played just once a week, is on a tight schedule. There is no room for mass postponements without disrupting the postseason slate.

“School districts are encouraged to allow teams to continue to practice when it is safe to do so, even if school is not in session,” the statement read. “We continue to monitor the situation and assist member schools in their effort to meet the requirement.”

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