Hockomock League Fall II Update on Away Spectators

Effective immediately, the Hockomock League will allow 2 AWAY family members of SENIOR student-athletes to attend all varsity games. This policy will include all league sports offered during the Fall II season: Cheerleading, Football, Volleyball, Track and Field, and Unified Basketball. 

Going forward, the Athletic Directors will continue to monitor information as it is made available from the EEA, DESE, and our local Boards of Health. Each district has the ability to make this policy more restrictive based on its own facility limitations and/or local Board of Health restrictions. It is our goal to focus on the health and safety of our communities while safely permitting family members the opportunity to watch high school sports in person.

Updated Statement on Fall 2 Wedge Season Spectators Protocols

The Hockomock League is proud to continue to fully support the return to play of all athletes to their respective sports programs this unusual COVID school year. We applaud all of the hard work and dedication that has gone into the development of sports modifications to best ensure the health and safety of all of our athletes, coaches, and officials. We are excited to offer Football, Cheer, Winter Track, Unified Basketball, and Volleyball.

At the same time, our Governor and the Massachusetts State Department of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) have worked hard to provide regulations and guidelines for spectators of these sporting events. The Hockomock League is doing its part in following these rules and regulations as it pertains to our spectator policy for this Fall II season. Volleyball and Unified Basketball will be run similar to winter basketball with its indoor capacity restrictions.

It is important to understand why it continues to be necessary for us to restrict attendance to immediate family members of HOME participants only. Unlike soccer, volleyball and basketball rosters, the roster sizes permitted at a track meet or football game include 45 home football players and 20 home cheerleaders. The EEA regulations of 2 adult immediate family members and siblings, per HOME participant, places our expected attendance at a minimum of 200 people. The EEA regulations also mandate “in the facility” that these family pods be socially distanced at 6 feet of separation per pod. Our outdoor stadium bleachers are at capacity under these mandates with just HOME family spectators.

We implore our families to remain patient and respectful. Please work with us during these early weeks of March as the season gets underway. We have put broadcast and livestreaming of Varsity games as a priority and will keep doing so through this season. We also remain hopeful and eager that the EEA will loosen their spectator restrictions as the warmer weather approaches. If and when that does occur, the League will revisit its HOME family spectator policy. 

As we begin our Fall II game schedule we ask that you please be respectful of the Home Family spectator policy for the health and safety of all players, coaches, and officials. Visitor families please do not travel to your opponent’s facility.

Fall II "Wedge" Season League Statement on Spectators

In an effort to organize the safest athletics experience possible for our student-athletes, the Hockomock League will be following the most recent guidance that was issued by the MA Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs: “Spectators are limited to 2 adults (parents/guardians or chaperones) and siblings of a participating player.”

Only home spectators will be allowed to attend league games during the Fall II season. All away spectators are strongly discouraged from traveling to away games, especially since they will not be allowed into the host school’s facility when they arrive. The method by which each host school chooses to admit, or to not admit, their HOME fans, will be decided at the individual District level. 

Our schools are making every effort to livestream as many home games as possible this season.