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Dear MPA Members,

Hopefully this memo finds you, your families, and your staff, healthy and keeping a positive focus as we navigate through this COVID-19 crisis. We recently held a meeting with the chairperson of each of the MPA spring sports committees, as well as the chair of the MPA Sports Medicine Committee, to discuss the upcoming spring season. First and foremost we encourage each of you to pay careful attention to the recommendations that are coming from our state government and the Maine CDC as those are providing us with crucial information as we move forward. Below please find a few points from our meeting that will hopefully help schools.

All recommendations align with the those established by the State of Maine, the Maine CDC, the Maine Department of Education, and those established by local municipalities. This would include recommendations around group gatherings, social distancing, and “stay at home” orders.

The 2020 spring sport season is currently on hold until we have a better idea of what is happening with this virus. The start date of April 27th, which we are all hoping that we might be able to have as a start date, is apt to change as circumstances change. As we move into the spring we will closely monitor the situation and will work with the MPA Board of Directors, the MPA Interscholastic Management Committee, and each individual sport committee, as decisions about the spring season are being made. Should we be able to have a spring season, even if it is a shortened season, we will work with our MPA Sports Medicine Committee to establish guidelines for the preseason.

We all know the important role that coaches play in the lives of our student/athletes and that these young people are reaching out to coaches for some guidance and direction. While we support coaches communicating with their athletes there are a number of points that we felt should be stressed prior to any communication with athletes.

All districts have Social Media Policies in place. Any communication between coaches and athletes must follow that policy.
Coaches should encourage their athletes to be active. Being outside and physically active is not only healthy but helps relieve the stress that so many people are feeling in this time of uncertainty.

Coaches should be encouraging and communicating with their athletes about the importance of keeping up with the academic work.
No activity suggested by a coach should be “mandatory”. Coaches should not be collecting data about workouts and should not be using that as a tool in team selection once the spring gets started.

All recommendations should focus on individual workouts. Coaches should not be encouraging athletes to come together for a team workout, including “captain’s practices”.

We are currently working with each individual sport committee, and their respective coaches association to develop a list of recommended drills and workouts that coaches may share with their athletes.

We thank each one of you for the crucial role that you play in making the health and safety of everyone in your school and community your top priority.






Important Information:    
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            Directions            

Link for directions to Penobscot Valley High School and Hichborn Middle School

Additional directions for the sports fields:
  • Soccer and baseball are played on the Dave Lovett Memorial Field, which is located directly behind the PVHS/HMS campus.  Instead of turning left onto the drive into the school grounds, go straight on Cross St., turn left into the parking area behind the schools.
  • Softball is played at the Gerald Hutchinson Jr. Softball Field.  When arriving from I-95 do not go around the roundabout and cross the Piscataquis River bridge. Instead turn right and follow the road 0.1 miles around the curve,  the field and parking will be on the right.
  • Tennis courts are located at the far end of the parking lot next to Hichborn Middle School.