If interscholastic sports are to take place in New York State this fall, they will do so on a delayed basis and without the lure of regional or state championships.
At the recommendation of its COVID-19 Task Force, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced Thursday that it would not hold its slate of fall state championships in November.
Also, NYSPHSAA decided to push back the start of fall sports until Sept. 21, four weeks after teams were scheduled to begin practices. And the possibility of further postponements remains on the table.
“We recognize this is challenging for everyone,” said NYSPHSAA executive director Dr. Robert Zayas. “The decisions made at the state level are based upon data and statewide infection rates all in an effort to stop the spread of (COVID-19) and reopen responsibly”.
As of now, interscholastic athletics remains prohibited across the state based on state Department of Health guidelines.
A determination will be made in the first week of August if schools are to open on time the first full week of September, with Governor Andrew Cuomo saying schools can open if infection rates remain below 5 percent and the state’s regions remain in “Phase Four” of their reopening processes.
NYSPHSAA’s COVID-19 Task Force met for the third time on Thursday after two meetings in June and after the State Department of Education released, earlier in the week, a 23-page guideline for schools looking to open after they were closed in mid-March.
Aside from making the decision not to have state championships in the fall, NYSPHSAA also waived a seven-day practice rule for fall sports teams and, encouraged geographic scheduling for games and contests – if there is a fall season.
If regional differences, school closings and pandemic outbreaks force further delays, NYSPHSAA is prepared to move most fall sports to a 10-week stretch from March 1 to May 8 in between the usual winter and spring seasons.
Football, soccer, cross country, field hockey, volleyball, girls swimming and Unified bowling would all make this move, with girls tennis moved to later in the spring.
As for the winter season, NYSPHSAA’s condensed schedule would have it begin Jan. 4 and end March 13, including basketball, ice hockey, indoor track, wrestling, bowling, gymnastics, skiing and competitive cheer.
Then the third 10-week slate which would run April 5 to June 12 would include lacrosse, baseball, softball, outdoor track, tennis and golf.
“We will continue to follow state guidance and work collectively with state officials to ensure high school athletics will start responsibly in the future,” said Zayas. “We must be willing to be flexible and continue to explore all options with student safety as our main focus.”
Any of these plans, said Zayas, remain subject to further changes, depending on what state officials decide in the weeks ahead. And those changes could include having non-contact sports (such as baseball, softball and golf) in the fall while still moving football and soccer to early 2021.
One certainty is that NYSPHSAA’s COVID-19 Task Force will meet again to discuss further options once state guidelines are updated.
