Independent leagues move forward

Schedules not publicized; Fairfield won’t allow use of fields

Convinced that they can play tackle football safely during the COVID-19 pandemic with no CIAC-sanctioned football this fall — and suddenly with, it seemed, an unlikely sort-of ally — one independent league for high school players began this past weekend, and another plans to be near full strength this weekend.

Four games in the Fairfield County Football

League’s senior division went off on Saturday. The Connecticut High School Independent Football League plans seven games this weekend.

One team isn’t sure where it’ll be playing this weekend, though. A team of Fairfield Ludlowe players played at their own school on Saturday, beating Westport in overtime, but the team was told it can no longer use Taft Field, coach Mitch Ross said.

“Unfortunately (Wednesday) we learned, despite the fact there were no issues, the Town of Fairfield took away all our fields,” Ross said. “I don’t know what changed their minds. Now we don’t have any fields to practice 11-v-11 or play 11v-11.”

Ross said the reason he got was that the town was “just following (Department of Public Health) guidelines.” He wasn’t sure from whom that decision ultimately came.

Messages to Fairfield superintendent of schools Mike Cummings weren’t immediately returned Wednesday.

Ross didn’t know if the decision extended to other youth teams or just the high school independent team.

“We’re not asking them to condone a team. We’re asking for field use,” Ross said, adding he’s confident his team will find a place to play. “Obviously DPH guidelines haven’t changed in four months, maybe even

Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media Ludlowe coach Mitchell Ross during a 2017 game at Norwalk.