SRA To Begin Smart Scheduling for Fall Sports

At the urging of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League and the RI Department of Health, Saint Raphael Academy will follow the recommended “smart scheduling” for outdoor fall sports. “Smart scheduling” is an initiative created to protect fall sports participants and spectators from mosquito bites during the hours when mosquitoes are most active.

This will affect the schedules for Saints football, boys and girls soccer, girls tennis and boys and girls cross country. Going forward:

• Varsity home soccer games will now start at 3:30 pm and JV games will be modified to two halves with 20 minutes of playing time so fields will be cleared by 6:30 pm.
• Varsity football games will be re-scheduled for Saturday afternoons.
• Home tennis matches and cross-country events need to be completed by 6:30 pm.

Additionally, all fall outdoor practices need to be completed at least 30 minutes before sunset. This guidance will remain in effect until we have a hard freeze; usually this occurs in mid-October.
Please check the RIIL website for the most updated information about Saint Raphael Academy sports schedules.

The initiative is being recommended out of an abundance of caution, as there have been deaths in Massachusetts and Rhode Island from the EEE virus in the last few months. The Department of health considers the entire state of Rhode Island to be a high-risk area, and certain cities and towns to be critical high-risk).

In addition to restricting outdoor activity during dawn and dusk, the Department of Health also recommends wearing an insect repellent with no more than 30 percent DEET and wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants to protect yourself from mosquito bites.