For the first time this year, sweat, yelling and competitive 11-on-11 boys soccer was the sight at Hamden High School.
The boys junior varsity and varsity teams played against each other in what was both teams’ first full-squad practice.
Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) officials cleared all schools within the conference, which includes Hamden High School, to hold full-team practices beginning Sept. 21. The regular season starts on Oct. 1, for all sports other than football.
“I think that the fact that they are having a season says a lot to the fact that social distancing, wearing a mask, cohorts of 10 have all worked out well because we have had no cases in terms of our soccer program,” said Bill Newman, Hamden High School boys soccer junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant coach.
In order to limit COVID-19 infection rates, Hamden High School varsity boys soccer head coach Ralph Romano said the team is following CIAC guidelines. Players will be required to wear a mask on the bench, rosters will be smaller and teams will travel a maximum of 30 miles to play games.
If the virus is contained, both the varsity and junior varsity teams are scheduled to finish on Nov. 6. However, a completed season is not guaranteed and the postseason is not planned yet, according to Romano.
Regardless of the season’s outcome, Romano hopes practices would still be held.
“If they don’t have a season, I hope they let us coach at least,” Romano said. “Practice and let us play against each other because you guys watched this game right here, it was varsity versus JV. It was already competitive.”
Playing a season also allows seniors to improve and showcase themselves in hopes to play in college. Romano said the varsity team has “some seniors that all have the ability to play in college.” Eli Clark, a senior striker on the varsity team, is one of those players.
“We get a final chance to show ourselves, show what we want to do,” Clark said.