It sounds like EEE has made scheduling practices and games more challenging than usual for Algonquin’s Athletic Department this fall. The Athletics Director posted on the school website:
As we continue to prioritize our student-athletes’ safety and in response to the DPH recommendations regarding the elevated risk of EEE exposure, we will be adjusting all outdoor athletic practices and games to now conclude before dusk, for September. We will update our practice schedules and games for September. For sport-specific information, please work with your athlete’s coach. We will be charging a gate fee for all games held on the stadium field and we ask that you check the sport-specific updated schedule before arrival for the location of your game. This directly impacts our soccer and football programs. We will continue to monitor and evaluate the risk and adjust accordingly.
Yet, it hasn’t stopped regular season competitions from starting this week. Golf, Field Hockey, Soccer and Volleyball all have games scheduled. Still gearing up to start next week are Cross Country and Football.
In preparation for the new season, local media reports that T-Hawks Football coaches are using modern technology to record practices from multiple angles.
“My idea last year was to get a drone because you could have any possible angle that you want.”
@THawk_Football football uses a drone to help prepare for upcoming season @ARHSAthletics @THawkTweets | by @EWintshttps://t.co/RgkKqiwhJk— Daily News Sports (@MetroWestSports) August 27, 2019
Wicked Local reports that head coach Taylor Allen hopes the use of drones can help get the team back on track. It hasn’t won a league game in two years. Obviously the technology can only do so much to help. Coaches were already using it last year. Taylor acknowledged to Wicked Local that much depends on what coaches do with the information they record:
“You are really only as good as your coaching staff when you break down film,” the third-year head coach said. “You can take the best film in the world but if you don’t know how to use it, it’s not going to be helpful.”
Now, here are the ARHS varsity games on tap for this week:
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
- 3:30 pm – ARHS Boys Golf vs. Westborough High School @ Westborough Country Club
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
- 4:00 pm – ARHS Field Hockey vs. Westborough High School @ New England Baseball Complex
Thursday, September 5, 2019
- 3:30 pm – ARHS Boys Golf vs. Shrewsbury High School @ Juniper Hills Golf Course
- 4:00 pm – ARHS Girls Soccer vs. Groton-Dunstable Regional @ Algonquin
- 4:00 pm – ARHS Boys Soccer vs. Groton-Dunstable Regional @ Groton-Dunstable Regional High School
Friday, September 6, 2019
- 4:00 pm – ARHS Field Hockey vs. Wachusett Regional @ New England Baseball Complex
- 5:15pm ARHS Girls Volleyball vs. Marlborough High School @ Algonquin
Saturday, September 7, 2019
- 4:00 pm – ARHS Girls Soccer vs. Sutton @ Algonquin (stadium field)
- 4:00 pm – ARHS Boys Soccer vs. St. John’s @ St John’s
(To find a complete schedule of Algonquin sports, including JV, freshmen, and unified match ups, click here. Follow these links for the Assabet sports schedule and the St. Mark’s sports schedule.)
Have a photo of your favorite team in action to share? Email mysouthborough@gmail.com.
