HUDSON — Alvirne High School will compete in all sports this fall season, while adhering to current NHIAA and National High School Federation pandemic protocols.

The Hudson School Board Thursday night approved for the Broncos to compete in all fall sports, including football.

“This is a fluid situation,” Alvirne athletic director Karen Bonney said. “I’m excited to hear that we may have the opportunity to compete.”

Alvirne Superintendent Larry Russell explained that safety practices used in the summer for open workouts will be used in the fall.

Bonney said that for her and the Alvirne coaches, health/safety is paramount if any COVID related issues are known. “If it’s a matter of not playing that night, then it’s a matter of not playing that night,” she said.

Russell said that all the coaches have been strictly told any virus-related issues must be reported.

Alvirne, Russell said, would be part of a scheduling “cohort” of close towns — Windham, Goffstown, Nashua North and Nashua South, as well as Merrimack for most sports. Football schedules have yet to be worked out, but the approval means that all of the area’s Division I schools will be playing football when practices start Tuesday and games begin on Sept. 25. Alvirne was the lone remaing school awaiting approval before Thursday’s meeting.

Students must sign a waiver to participate, Russell said, and there would be pre-screenings before practice and game participation. If student-athletes were remote learning that day, they must arrive for practice or games dressed and ready to go to limit time in any locker room.

“We wouldn’t be doing anything different than any other Division I school,” Russell said.

Bonney said that using the cohort plan creates somewhat of a bubble and those schools will communicate constantly on health issues.

Most Division I schools are not allowing visiting team fans and Alvirne will be one of them. Bonney told the board that some schools will live stream games on the internet so away fans can see them.

Girls volleyball, which has been played outside during off season workouts, but that will change for the season as volleyball is an indoor sport.

“Our intention, yes, would be to bring the game back inside,” Bonney said.

Middle school sports were also approved.

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