Athletic Director appeals to School Committee for eighth grade girls ice time
Published on October 29th, 2008
STONEHAM. MA - Eighth grade girl ice hockey players may be lacing up their skates and playing with the big kids soon if Stoneham High School Athletic Director David Pignone gets his way.
Appearing before the School Committee last Thursday, Pignone proposed allowing eighth grade girls to play on the girls high school ice hockey team if the numbers of high school girls going out for the team were deemed too low to safely put together a team.
According to Pignone, the primary motivation behind the idea is safety of the hockey players. Last season, the girls' varsity hockey team consisted of just 14 members. With such a low number, "the girls were exhausted by the third period," and thus more vulnerable to injury. In addition, the survival of the program could be at risk if the number of participants remains low.
Although such a move sounds drastic, there are some advantages to it, as Pignone pointed out. An ideal number of players on a team would be around twenty. If 20 high school girls are interested in playing this year, then there would be no reason to open it up to eighth graders. However, approval from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) to open the program up to eight graders would need to be requested by mid November, before hockey tryouts. Best case scenario, as Pignone put it, would be to get approval just in case, but then have enough high school girls want to play.
In the event that Stoneham receives MIAA approval and finds a need to open up the program to eight graders, Pignone said that that in and of itself might bring more interest to the program. Stoneham High School Athletics has been working cooperatively with Stoneham youth sports groups throughout town including Stoneham Youth Hockey, and this may help popularize the sport with young, female players who may aspire to play for Stoneham High someday. It may even be an added attraction for eight graders to consider when thinking about their high school choices. Committee member Joe Viselli recommended that St. Patrick eighth graders be included as well.
Other towns have opened up their high school sports programs to eighth graders too. In Reading, eighth graders have been allowed to try out for the high school swim team, and in Wakefield, gymnastics has opened up to eighth graders. With the exception of field hockey, all fall sports tryouts in Watertown were opened to eighth graders. The MIAA allows this for non-contact sports (girls ice hockey has a no-check policy) if a district's superintendent and School Committee have approved it first.
It is important to note, however, that no high school student will be passed over in favor of an eight grader. "An eighth grader will not take the place of a high school athlete on the team," Pignone said.
Superintendent Dr. Les Olson advised that he and SHS Principal Ed Russo have discussed the issue and, due to the concerns about safety, support Pignone's proposal.
The School Committee unanimously approved the request to submit for MIAA approval.
"I'd certainly like to see the girls keep on playing," said committee member Shelley McNeill
In other news, School Committee members David Maurer and Joe Viselli were appointed to a Facilities Committee, also comprised of two members of the Board of Selectmen and one member of the Finance and Advisory Board charged with looking into the futures of the three surplus school facilities, which include the North School on Collincote Street, the East School on Beacon Street, and the Old Central School on William Street.
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