NYSPHSAA RELEASES FALL SPORTS GUIDANCE DOCUMENT (2020-09-05)

Valley Sports Report
LATHAM, N.Y. - It's long. It's wordy. It's what school districts must follow if they wish to participate in interscholastic athletics this fall.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association released the 49-page Return to Interscholastic Athletics resource document Friday and it outlines the requirements school districts must follow.

Currently, low- and moderate-risk sports can practice and compete beginning Sept. 21. However, football and volleyball, and in some cases competitive cheerleading are limited to practice as they are considered to be high-risk sports.

The document provides guidance for athletes, coaches, parents and officials, and also gives health and safety rules which must be followed. It also has a section for each sport, which outlines the steps which will have to be taken before, during and after competition events.

The document gives school district superintendents the authority to determine whether or not to move forward with the fall season.

Sections can determine start and end dates, but must adhere to the 15-week time frame. There will be no regional and state championships for the fall season, but section championships are permitted.

Section VIII (Nassau County) on Long Island announced two weeks ago it will postpone all sports until 2021. In Section IV, Norwich High School and Oneonta High School recently announced the postponement of fall sports to spring while the combined Odessa-Montour and Watkins Glen football has canceled its 2020 season.

Click NYSPHSAA to view the document.