Cumberland boys soccer to resume season after 'bullying/hazing incident'

The Cumberland boys soccer team will resume its regular schedule after what the superintendent of schools described as "a bullying and/or hazing incident" took place and the players involved have been disciplined.

Superintendent Philip D. Thornton told The Providence Journal that the incident took place at a private home and involved "several members of the boys soccer team." Once school officials learned of the incident, he added that the "students were consequenced per the [Cumberland High School] Handbook & Athletic Handbook," but said he could not disclose individual student disciplines.

According to the district's athletic handbook , which was approved by the School Committee on July 16 of this year, hazing is defined as "any conduct or method of initiation" by any student organization that "willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person."

The policy also states that "Coaches are responsible to make sure these types of activities do not occur on their team."

Under the handbook's "Student-Athlete Code of Conduct," penalties start with a one-week suspension from all team activities for a first offense and become more punitive with each subsequent offense. A second offense could mean a season-long suspension from the sport, a third offense could trigger a year-long ban from all athletics and a fourth is punishable by permanent suspension from all athletics at the high school.

In a message to parents dated Thursday, Sept. 3, Thornton had said, "The district is investigating an incident involving members of the Cumberland High School Boys Soccer Team. As this is a sensitive matter involving students, no further information is available at this time."

Cumberland had been scheduled to play at North Kingstown on Wednesday, Sept. 2, but that game was postponed . A post on the Clippers' Facebook page read, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, today's game and practices have been postponed."

Cumberland is set to play again on Wednesday, Sept. 9, when it hosts Bishop Hendricken, and Thornton said Friday that the team "will play its regular schedule for the fall."