The New York State Public High Schools Athletic Association announced Wednesday night that soccer, volleyball, and cheerleaders would be postponed until March 1 because the resulting headaches are considered “higher risk “.
“This resolution was intended to provide soccer and volleyball athletes and competitive cheerleaders the opportunity to have a quality participation experience,” said NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas. “It’s going to be very difficult to provide that to student-athletes at this point, their only ability to exercise until they are granted additional permission. “
The revised season of these 3 sports, which are regularly practiced in the fall, will be known as the “Autumn Season II” and you will be allowed to officially start education on March 1, 2021. Depends on the individual sections until the end date for the season, nySPHSAA recommends concluding may 1.
SUPER 25: The best school football rankings
REGIONAL FOOTBALL CLASS: Top in 8 US regions. But it’s not the first time
FOOTBALL SECONDARY: USA TODAY Sports All-USA Team
Due to the postponement of high-risk sports, NYSPHSAA has also postponed the start date of the spring sports season until April 19. The first official education sessions will not begin until then; were scheduled to begin on March 15.
The date delay provides about two weeks of overlap between Fall II and Spring, which was a fear for coaches, umpires, and multisport athletes. According to Zayas, it is up to individual sections to make a decision on whether an athlete can or not compete in two other sports at the same time, but, if allowed, practices during the two-week overlap will continue with the spring practice requirements.
“It’s very important to us that the overlap is reduced,” said Zayas. “A few months ago when we talked about implementing the condensed season model, it was a main fear of our members. Hopefully today’s resolution is proof that we have heard the fears of our member schools, and we are removing that overlap from what was originally about 4 weeks to two weeks.
“When you look at the overlap of just two weeks, when they get the required number of practices and start playing, that overlap between the start of the games and the end of the Fall II sports season. it will be very minimal. Array “
Zayas points out that it is imaginable for athletes to compete in all 4 seasons: autumn, winter, autumn II and spring. He says he interviewed and met with nearly 500 athletic administrators over the past few days via Zoom before taking the decision to postpone “high-risk” sports until March.
“I have listened to the considerations of those sports directors,” he said. “I heard them express their questions and considerations about high-risk sports. This resolution is made by listening to our members and seeking to help them after high-stakes fall sports sometime during the year. year 2020. -21 school year. “
Autumn sports designated as “low risk” by the state Department of Health (football, swimming, cross-country, women’s tennis and box hockey) begin education on September 21, according to NYSPHSAAArray Section 1 announced last week that all of these sports, with the exception of swimming, will not begin until September 29 and that the fate of the swimming season will be decided in the coming days.
If those sports are interrupted or stopped, the NYSPHSAA would possibly move and load “low-risk” sports on the Fall Sports Season II list.
All fall sports have a minimum 10 practice requirement, while the 12 practice requirement is maintained for soccer.
“Even if we delayed football until March 1, some student-athletes might not have participated or been as active as they may have deserved to have been laid off,” Zayas said. “Have some extra workouts to make sure those student-athletes are more ready for conditioning and more in position to compete. I think it is a sensible resolution ”.
During the competition, all athletes must wear a mask unless they can tolerate physical activity. In this case, they can be removed, but if a player is on the bench and cannot maintain a distance of six feet, then facial covers are required. Coaches must also wear masks.
“These are the recommendations of the Ministry of Health,” said Zayas. “Nowhere in the rules does it state that the student must have a note from a parent or a doctor’s note or any kind of school documentation. “
Although “higher risk” fall sports move to March, there will be no state playoffs for fall sports. The state winter and spring sports championships continue as scheduled. However, nySPHSAA would possibly extend the spring season beyond its same expired June date if necessary.
There is no replacement for the winter sports season at this time. Zayas doesn’t anticipate winter sports rules coming from the governor until the Nov. 30 start date. The NYSPHSAA is ultimately aiming to kick-start “low-risk” fall sports.
“We have to be flexible,” Zayas said. ” If we want to give students the opportunity to participate, we need to be flexible and we need to continue to review and analyze as much as possible. “
Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at erapay5.