This was supposed to be the week where the high school spring sports season in New York State hit full force, with baseball, softball, track and field, boys tennis and golf joining boys and girls lacrosse teams on the field.
For now, though, sports remain on hold while the fight against COVID-19 continues.
With state officials extending the closure of all K-12 schools until April 29, Section III announced on Monday that the start of spring sports would be moved back to that date, too.
“Section III will continue to adhere to any and all extended dates and regulations established by the (New York State) Governor’s office,” said the section’s executive director, John Rathbun.
The outbreak of COVID-19 in March ultimately wiped out the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s plans to conduct state championships in boys and girls basketball, ice hockey and bowling.
Then spring sports, which normally opens with practices in March, was frozen just as all schools and non-essential businesses in the state were closed.
As of now, NYSPHSAA has not made a decision over whether to conduct its spring sports championships, saying they will do so by April 27 .
If they do not happen, then individual sections could still conduct their own abbreviated seasons should schools reopen, with a week to 10 days of practices and then a more contained schedule with less travel that ends with open-ended sectional tournaments.
Perhaps helping in that process was a decision that the New York State Board of Regents would not hold Regents examinations in June. Normally, the spring sports season would have wrapped up by June 13 to make room for those tests.
