new york high school sports – Syndication Server

NYSPHSAA delays high-risk winter high school sports until 2021

The NYSPHSAA proposed Tuesday that high-risk winter high school sports be delayed until 2021.

With COVID-19 numbers in New York once again trending in the wrong direction, the NYSPHSAA proposed Tuesday that high-risk winter high school sports be delayed until 2021.

According to lohud.com, the NYSPHSAA’s updated return to play document suggests a Jan. 4 start date for high-risk winter high school sports, pending state approval. Low and moderate-risk winter high school sports are still expected to begin official practices on Nov. 30.

Guidelines issued by New York in July classify basketball, hockey, wrestling and competitive cheerleading as “high-risk” winter high school sports. The “low-risk” sports include bowling, gymnastics, skiing and swimming and diving. Those sports are allowed to begin competition once minimum practice requirements are met.

“The NYSPHSAA membership has expressed concerns pertaining to the increase in infection rates,” NYSPHSAA executive director Zayas said in a statement. “Minimizing risk and exposure to COVID-19 is a top priority of the association. We continue to make these types of decisions based upon readily available information and communication with state officials.”

Until New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes an official ruling on the NYSPHSAA’s proposed Jan. 4 start date for high-risk sports, nothing can move forward. The governor has yet to weigh in on the proposal.

“It’s the best possible case scenario,” Section 1 executive director Todd Santabarbara said of the Jan. 4 proposal for high-risk sports. “If we have authorization. That’s still the question.

“For those who started the fall (season), it has been extremely successful. If we get through our regional tournaments locally, we’ve been very fortunate. The reality is, the landscape is quickly changing. Schools are navigating it and understanding what it could mean if we go into the yellow or orange zone. That has shifted the focus back to keeping the doors open in schools.”

Individual sections would determine end dates for the winter season once it begins. Plans for a state championship tournament remain on course, but are subject to change. If high-risk winter sports do indeed begin on Jan. 4, that would allow for at least five or six weeks of regular-season competition, followed by a brief postseason tournament. Basketball, hockey and cheer squads must complete six practices before they are eligible to begin competition. Wrestling teams must complete a minimum of 10.

“I’m just keeping my head up and praying we have a season,” Ursuline girls basketball star and Notre Dame recruit Sonia Citron said. “With all of the uncertainty, I’m hoping that we do get to play on Jan. 4. I’m really looking forward to my senior season with Ursuline and being with my teammates again. I’m hoping that it happens and I’ll try to stay positive. All of my teammates are ready. We really want to play this season and right now I think we’re more excited than nervous to get on the court and continue from where we were last year.”

No immediate plans to allow winter high school sports in New York

Winter high school sports in New York are currently in a holding pattern.

With COVID-19 cases rising throughout New York, state officials said Monday that they are less likely to allow “high-risk” indoor sports this winter. Those sports include basketball, hockey and wrestling. No official decision has been announced, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other top state officials doubt whether winter sports will be able to take place.

“As we’re seeing the inclines in different parts of the state, we’re not inclined to go ahead with opening the winter sports at this time,” State budget director Robert Mujica said on a conference call with reporters, per lohud.com. “We’re continuing to look at those numbers, but the numbers right now don’t indicate we are going to expand them right now.”

In August, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced it would delay the beginning of winter sports until Nov. 30 in order to give fall teams more time to complete their seasons. On Thursday, Section III announced that winter sports can begin Monday, Dec. 14. However, basketball, ice hockey, wrestling and competitive cheerleading have all been deemed high-risk sports by the state health department, leaving them in uncertainty.

Bowling, gymnastics, indoor track and field, skiing, swimming and diving have all received clearance to proceed with their seasons. In Section III, swimming and diving has been moved to the “Fall II” season in March. Gymnasts are currently competing this fall.

“At this time, authorization has not been provided for high-risk sports to begin play,” Zayas said. “The high-risk sports start date continues to be examined and will be revised if needed but is contingent upon authorization from state officials.”

State group declines February start of high-risk high school sports in New York

High school sports not played in the fall remain on track to begin on March 1 after the NYSPHSAA declined a proposal to start earlier.

“High-risk” high school sports not played in the fall remain on track to begin on March 1 after the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s executive committee declined a proposal to start one week earlier.

According to the Buffalo News, officials from Section I in New York proposed football, volleyball and competitive cheerleaders, which were not permitted to take place in the fall because of COVID-19, proposed “Fall 2” sports be allowed to begin practice on Feb. 22 with section approval.

However, the 22 voting members of the committee voted 10-10 with two abstentions. NYSPHSAA President Julie Bergman then voted against changing the start date, defeating the proposal.

“An earlier start date would create a more equitable season length across the four-season model with no overlap between seasons, unless a section chose to extend their season and/or was participating in an NYSPHSAA Regional or State Championship,” Section I said.

Under the NYSPHSAA’s current calendar, winter sports in New York state end Feb. 21, excluding teams playing deep into the postseason. Section I’s proposal would have started the “Fall 2” season the next day.

New York planning accelerated decision on fate of winter high school sports

A decision on the fate of winter high school sports in New York could be coming sooner than originally expected.

According to syracuse.com, the New York Public High School Athletic Association has set Nov. 30 as the date when winter sports such as basketball, hockey and wrestling can begin practice. This decision comes after a timetable for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s decision whether to allow high-risk high school sports this winter emerged.

Cuomo has said that he will make his decision on winter high school sports “before Dec. 31.” However, that does little for the outlook of winter high school sports in New York, as competition is usually underway well before the end of December. The uncertainty surrounding Cuomo’s timetable for a decision is why the NYSPHSAA elected to push high-risk fall sports cheerleading, football and volleyball to March.

State budget director Robert Mujica said Cuomo will “likely” address winter sports at some point in November on a conference call Wednesday.

“That obviously is beneficial to us because we were under the impression we wouldn’t get any new information until Dec. 31,” NYSPHSAA spokesperson Chris Watson said. “I think the timeline that was announced today is a good timeline for us to get some things figured out. What will happen next is we will wait and see what we can get from state officials. To know that athletics is on their radar is a good sign for us.”