Sports

State offers sports guidelines to restart

After months of discussions, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association officially announced its return to play guidelines on Sept. 4.   On Friday afternoon, the NYSPHSAA released a 49-page document with instructions for member schools on how to take the field this fall while complying
with state Department of Health guidelines and mitigating the risk of COVID-19 spread.

The document reiterated that the final decision on athletic participation will rest with each individual school district.

On Aug. 24, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, announced that low-to-medium risk high school fall sports could begin on Sept. 21, while
sports designated as “highrisk”— including football and volleyball—could start practices on that date but would not be permitted to schedule games
until further guidance from the state.

Friday’s guideline maintained those same dates, although it should be noted that Section I officials voted to push back the start of the fall sports season until
Sept. 29.

The document also provided further instructions regarding other safety issues facing sports.  According to the guidelines, athletes participating in sports
where it is not possible to maintain six feet of social distance from teammates and opponents must wear face coverings at all times, although accommodations
will be made when the player is “unable to tolerate a face covering for physical activity.”

Coaches and trainers will also be required to wear face coverings at all times, as will athletes on the sidelines.  Coaches are also encouraged to limit a team’s
gameday roster in order to abide by social distancing guidelines for the sidelines.

The NYSPHSAA has also deemed that celebratory contact with one’s teammates and coaches—including fist bumps, handshakes and hugs—will not
permitted.

In addition to regulating onfield behavior, the document outlined protocol for attendees.  According to the NYSPHSAA, each athlete is allowed no more
than two spectators at each contest, and fans will be compelled to wear masks in all public spaces.  Members of the media will be permitted to attend games but
must comply with the rules set forth by each school district in order to do so.

With the state guidelines in place, it is now up to each of New York state’s 11 sections to decide how to move forward.  Section IX, which oversees public
schools in Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties, announced last week that they plan to vote on a fall sports return date at a meeting on Sept. 10, with some
believing that section officials will push back the start to Nov. 1.

Section I officials promised to revisit their re-start options after these guidelines were handed down by the state.  In a Sept. 3 memo, the Executive Committee
of Section I said it would “Reconvene before Sept. 29, and in conjunction with the Athletic Council and Section I COVID Task Force, will continue to examine the data and guidance available while planning the best path forward for Section One student-athletes.”
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