Between the Lines

Volume 2. No 1 *** August 17, 2021

Greetings DHS Families,

We are very excited to welcome back our student-athletes, starting with Football this Friday (and all other sports next Monday).

DHS Athletics has been working hard throughout the summer in an effort to have a smooth start to our athletic year. While COVID-19 has been a great challenge for all within our country, my hope is that our return to school will be a step in the direction of positive change and normalcy in our community.

Traditionally, DHS uses this Athletic Department newsletter as a communication avenue to keep families abreast of information pertaining to our program. This respective newsletter details the Fall pre-season; student-athlete participation eligibility, start days/times (first 3 days), what student-athletes need, current COVID-19 protocols and information pertaining to our new prospective head injury baseline testing.

In closing, our Athletic Department's goal of offering a first-class educational athletic experience remains in the forefront of every decision that we make. Once again we look forward to serving the people of this great community the best way we can!

ANDREW D. CRISAFULLI

Director of Athletics

Only student-athletes who have accomplished the following tasks will be eligible to tryout/participate during Day 1:

• Be academically eligible (all incoming 9th graders are eligible)

• Registered on FamilyID (deadline is WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 18th)
  

• Submitted an updated physical to the DHS Athletic Office (please forward any updated sports physicals to Athletics Secretary Dolores Consoletti (doloresconsoletti@dartmouthschools.org). **STUDENT-ATHLETES WHO DO NOT HAVE AN UP-TO-DATE PHYSICAL WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE**

We will re-open FamilyID the evening after the first tryout date for any late registrations. Please note, it can take up to 24 hours to clear a student-athlete for participation.

FOOTBALL

Friday, August 20th

**(Each day...practice, meetings, progressive equipment distribution, etc)**

(Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores) - Practice 7:30am - 11:30am (Dartmouth High School)

(Freshman) - Practice 2:30pm-4:30pm (Dartmouth High School)

**First Day: All Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores should report to Dartmouth High School at 7:15am for pre-practice check-in**

**First Day: ALL FRESHMAN should report to Dartmouth High School at 2:15pm for pre-practice check-in**

Student-athletes will need spikes, sneakers & water

Saturday, August 21st

(Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores) Practice 7:30am - 11:30am (Dartmouth High School) - Report at 7:15am

(Freshman) Practice 8:00am - 10am (Dartmouth High School) - Report at 7:45am

Monday, August 23rd

(Seniors, Juniors & Sophomores) Practice 7:30am - 11:30am (Dartmouth High School) - Report at 7:15am

(Freshman) Practice 8:00am - 10am (Dartmouth High School) - Report at 7:45am

All sport specific questions should be directed to Head Coach Richard White: (richardwhite@dartmouthschools.org)

FIELD HOCKEY

Monday, August 23rd

Practice 9:30am - 11:30am (Dartmouth Memorial Stadium / DMS)

**First Day: All program players should report to the the Dartmouth Middle School track at 9:15am for pre-practice check-in**

Student-athletes will need goggles, mouth guard, shinguards, stick, spikes, sneakers & water

Tuesday, August 24th

Practice 7:00am - 9:00am (Dartmouth Memorial Stadium / DMS) - Report at 6:45am

Wednesday, August 25

Practice 8:30am - 10:30am (Dartmouth Memorial Stadium / DMS) - Report at 8:15am

All sport specific questions should be directed to Head Coach Beth Arguin: (betharguin@dartmouthschools.org)

GIRLS SOCCER

Monday, August 23rd

Practice 8:30am - 10:30am (Dartmouth Memorial Stadium / DMS)

**First Day: All program players should report to the the Dartmouth Middle School track at 8:15am for pre-practice check-in**

Student-athletes will need a soccer ball, cleats, shin guards & water

Tuesday, August 24th

Practice 9:30am - 11:30am (Dartmouth Memorial Stadium / DMS) - Report at 9:15am

Wednesday, August 25

Practice 7:00am - 9:00am (Dartmouth Memorial Stadium / DMS) - Report at 6:45am

All sport specific questions should be directed to Head Coach Scot Boudria: (scotboudria@dartmouthschools.org)

BOYS SOCCER

Monday, August 23rd

Practice 7:00am - 9:00am (Dartmouth Memorial Stadium / DMS)

**First Day: All program players should report to the Dartmouth Memorial Stadium at 6:45am for pre-practice check-in**

Student-athletes will need a soccer ball, running sneakers, spikes, shin guards, dark color shirt (green), a red shirt, a white shirt & water

Tuesday, August 24th

Practice 8:30am - 10:30am (Dartmouth Memorial Stadium / DMS) - Report at 8:15am

Wednesday, August 25th

Practice 9:30am - 11:30am (Dartmouth Memorial Stadium / DMS) - Report at 9:15am

All sport specific questions should be directed to Head Coach Josh Silva: (joshuasilva@dartmouthschools.org)

VOLLEYBALL

Monday, August 23rd

Practice 9:00am - 12:00pm (DHS / Carlin Lynch Activity Center) - 8:45am check in

**First Day: All program players should report to the the Carlin Lynch Activity Center at their assigned check in times for pre-practice responsibilities**

Student-athletes will need movement clothing, sneakers & water

Tuesday, August 24th

Freshman - Practice 8:00am - 11:00am - 7:45am check in

Seniors - Sophomores - Practice 10:00am - 1:00pm (DHS / Carlin Lynch Activity Center) - 9:45am check in

Wednesday, August 25th

Freshman - Practice 8:00am - 11:00am - 7:45am check in

Seniors - Sophomores - Practice 10:00am - 1:00pm (DHS / Carlin Lynch Activity Center) - 9:45am check in

All sport specific questions should be directed to Head Coach Rachel Lassey: (rachellassey@dartmouthschools.org)

BOYS & GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Monday, August 23rd

Practice 8:30am - 10:30am (Dartmouth High School - Track) - 8:15am check in

**First Day: All program participants should report to the the Dartmouth High School Track at 8:15am for pre-practice check-in**

Student-athletes will need sneakers & water

Tuesday, August 24th

Practice 8:30am - 10:30am (Dartmouth High School - Track) - 8:15am check in

Wednesday, August 25th

Practice 8:30am - 10:30am (Dartmouth High School - Track) - 8:15am check in

All sport specific questions should be directed to Head Coach Hilary Sousa: (hilariasousa@dartmouthschools.org)

GOLF

Tuesday, August 24th

Practice 8:00am - 10:00am (Allendale Country Club)

**FIRST DAY**

8:00am

Returning Juniors and Seniors should report to the patio area (around the clubhouse) for pre-practice check-in. Please do not congregate around the bag room, nor use the putting green or driving range.

9:00am

Freshman, Sophomores and anyone who did not play last year should report to the patio area (around the clubhouse) for pre-practice check-in. Please do not congregate around the bag room, nor use the putting green or driving range.

Student-athletes will need golf clubs, golf balls and proper dress (golf shorts/pants and a collared shirt)

Wednesday, August 25th

Allendale Country Club - Time TBA

Thursday, August 26th

Allendale Country Club - Time TBA

All sport specific questions should be directed to Head Coach Mike Frates: (michaelfrates@dartmouthschools.org)

CHEERLEADING

Team tryouts were scheduled in mid-June...any additional student-athletes interested in trying out should contact Head Coach Rebecca Braga (rebeccabraga@dartmouthschools.org) ASAP

Monday, August 23rd

Practice 5:30pm-7:30pm (DHS / Carlin Lynch Activity Center)

Tuesday, August 24th

Practice 5:30pm-7:30pm (DHS / Carlin Lynch Activity Center)

Wednesday, August 25th

Practice 5:30pm-7:30pm (DHS / Carlin Lynch Activity Center)

**ADDITIONAL TRYOUT DATE FOR THOSE WHO CONTACTED COACH BRAGA**

UNIFIED BASKETBALL

After Labor Day

An unlimited participation policy will be used whenever possible. There are factors, however, which necessitate the size of the squad be limited in order to maintain a high level of safety, coaching, playing and practice time.

The following will be considered reasons to limit the size of the squad:

• Nature of the sport (e.g. golf, tennis)

• Available time and facility (e.g. most indoor sports)

• An exceptionally large number of students trying out for a sport (e.g. 60 candidates for basketball)

• Safety factors (e.g. ratio of students to coaches)

Whenever possible, no cuts will be made until after three tryout sessions.

**The composition of a roster (size and personnel) is strictly a coach/coaching staff decision and will vary from sport to sport**

• Eat smart the days leading up to the season and be sure to fuel up in the morning before practice.

• HYDRATE. It is typically hot during tryouts, so be sure to hydrate prior to, during and after your session.

• Beware of new cleats! Break them in first- don’t just wear them for the first time to your first practice.

As the Fall season approaches, remember that no issues or conflicting commitments are too big to be solved with a discussion.

If you have any issues or conflicts with any upcoming practices, tryouts, etc., it is always better to reach out to the head coach AHEAD of time.

All members of interscholastic teams for Dartmouth High School will be assessed a $50.00 participation fee for each season, not to exceed $125.00 per student-athlete for the school year, and not to exceed $250.00 per family per school year.

User fees will be due after teams are selected, but in all cases prior to the first contest.

User fees should be paid online by visiting our Athletic Department website; www.BigGreenSports.org

Checks may be made payable to:

Town of Dartmouth/Athletics

555 Bakerville Road

Dartmouth, MA 02748

No cash will be accepted!

With the start of the 2021 Fall season just days away, there are some COVID-19 related protocols and practices that are in place for the start of the season.

As you are aware, we are in a rapidly changing set of circumstances surrounding COVID-19, so adjustments to these protocols can be expected.

DHS will continue to follow Federal, State, DESE, MIAA and local BOH recommendations as we move through our 2021-22 athletic seasons, and will also keep families up-to-date on any changes.

Here are some protocols that are in place at the time of this newsletter publishing:

• Any DHS Athletics activity (practice, contest, meeting, film, etc.) held indoors, requires each participant to wear a mask. This applies to vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. This means that Volleyball and Cheer activities, which are mainly held indoors, will require those participating to wear masks. Outdoor sports should make every attempt to hold all team activities outdoors.
• Gaiters are not permitted...masks must be multi-layered and worn properly.
• Indoor masking requirements apply to locker rooms and team rooms as well. As a result, teams are asked to avoid use of these areas when other alternatives exist. If these areas are used, masks must be worn.
• Student-athletes MUST bring their own water bottle and water for all practices and contests. We will make large water jugs available for re-filling, but student-athletes may NOT share individual water bottles.
• Masks must be worn at all times while on a bus to/from an away contest.
• Student quarantines will be managed through the DHS nurses office. They will involve a new Test and Stay approach which will be explained school-wide soon.

As mentioned above, these protocols may be amended as conditions change.

The DHS Athletic Department will be sponsoring mandatory virtual individual program/team meetings during the week of August 30th to share Fall season information (rules, requirements, protocols, guidelines, calendar, practice & game schedules) with all stakeholders, along with answering any sports specific questions.

Meeting dates/times will be shared the week of August 23rd via e-mail.

DHS Athletics has adopted a new baseline testing program (replacing Impact Testing) as a tool to assist in the evaluation of a prospective head injury...it's called SWAY MEDICAL.

The Sway system combines objective balance and cognitive measures to support healthcare professionals in performing accurate and informed evaluations with nothing more thank the mobile device they already own.

Sway pioneered mobile balance testing with it's patented technology that uses nothing more than the mobile sensors built into the device you already own.

The Sway system allows a health care professional to accurately assess cognitive function with quick and easy tests of visual processing, reaction time and memory.

All potential DHS student-athletes (All grades, sports and seasons) will need to complete SWAY testing prior to sports participation. Once completed, the SWAY baseline test results are valid for two years.

SWAY testing will take place at DHS (20-25 minutes in duration) and overseen by our Athletic Trainer Chelsie Borowski.

As of this posting, DHS has tested over 350 student-athletes (early-August) and will look to offer additional testing dates/times in the future.

Sway is available on both Apple and Android operating system.

If you have any questions, your point of contact is DHS Athletic Trainer Chelsie Borowski at chelsieborowski@dartmouthschools.org

Last school year, DHS Athletics released its new department website www.BigGreenSports.org.

This comprehensive website contains the following: Athletic Department information (handbooks, coach contact info, athletic materials), sport offerings, updates, team schedules, game locations, scores, rosters, sport registration, on-line user fee payments, etc.

We encourage all families to take time to navigate the site, as it's a 1-stop shop for DHS athletics information.

ANDREW D. CRISAFULLI, M.Ed., CAA, AIC

Director of Athletics & Wellness

@ACrisafulli02

DOLORES CONSOLETTI

Athletics Administrative Assistant

doloresconsoletti@dartmouthschools.org

Email: andrewcrisafulli@dartmouthschools.org
Website: www.BigGreenSports.org
Location: 555 Bakerville Road, Dartmouth, MA, USA
Phone: (508) 961-2700
Twitter: @BigGreenSports