By Peter J. Speziale

COVID-19 is not the only airborne threat these days – look closely at the picture. With both feet off the turf, 7 year old Ryan Speziale, one of many masked Marblehead athletes, weaves his way through COVID compliant sports despite the pandemic’s pandemonium.

Praise to North Shore Flag Football Inc., the referees and the coaches for their organization and execution of safe play for Marblehead kids.

Some of the new requirements are masks, gloves, 6 feet spacing for players on the sideline, using different footballs between opposing teams and limiting fan attendance to one.

The kids are out of the house, learning and enjoying team camaraderie in a safe and much-missed group setting.

The North Shore Flag Football league is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that runs the NFL FLAG play 60 programs in Massachusetts for girls and boys age 3 to 15. Here are the takeaways: Safety comes first; the spirit perseveres – a reminder for all of us during these unprecedented times.

Run, Ryan, run!

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