Two high-school athletic leagues which include local school districts have announced that the start of the winter sports season had been pushed into January 2021.
After earlier delays, winter high school sports deemed low- and moderate-impact were officially approved by New York State for practices to begin on November 30. But with Covid-19 infections once again peaking, local school districts were already grappling with how to safely re-introduce sports within the context of their cohort-led hybrid educational models. Now they’ll have to wait, with both the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) and Mid-Hudson Athletic League (MHAL) pushing winter sports into January.
The OCIAA was first to make the announcement, saying in a November 25 press release that winter sports won’t begin until at least January 19. “This morning the OCIAA met and voted to extend the pause on athletics, specifically the winter sports start date, from November 30 to January 19,” read the OCIAA press release. “Our decision came in response to recommendations from the Orange County Department of Health, legal advice, and recommendations from our superintendents.”
Later on November 25, the MHAL used Twitter to announce its delay: “No winter sports will begin in the MHAL (practices, scrimmages or contests) until 1/4/21 at the earliest.”
The news came as school districts were heading into a long Thanksgiving weekend that experts predicted would lead to a severe spike in Covid-19 infections, with many families ignoring health officials by gathering together.
The start of winter sports competition may not occur until February, with fall sports set to begin March 1 and spring sports April 19. Still undecided is whether high-risk winter sports (basketball and wrestling) will be included in the January restart.
Kingston primarily competes in the OCIAA, which in its press release announcing the shift to January said that school districts could use their own discretion in determining whether to allow for certain offseason training.
Kingston athletics Rich Silverstein said that at least for the time being, offseason training was allowed under rigid guidelines. “We have been running offseason training for our high-school athletes, supervised and conducted by our athletic trainer on our turf fields and (high school) gym, for about a month now,” Silverstein said. “Our intent is to continue offering no-equipment conditioning and weight training for our fall II athletes and our winter low/medium sports athletes. My hope and plan is to offer this training to middle school athletes starting in January to prepare for their upcoming seasons as well.”
Silverstein added that the district is taking it day-by-day. “My superintendent [Paul Padalino] and I have been closely monitoring the infection rates, and we will continue to work day-by-day in terms of training our athletes and fingers crossed about starting our winter and fall II seasons,” he said. “Our high-school athletes on full remote, and those on hybrid have been joining us for our after school training in excellent and controlled numbers of participants. and we hope to continue this pace.”
Other local school districts, including Saugerties, compete primarily in the MHAL. With high-risk sports still off the table, winter sports in Saugerties currently include only bowling. Bowling alone.
“There is still a plan to offer a fall II season starting March 1 and a spring season starting on April 19,” said Saugeries athletics director Dom Zarrella. “These plans are very fluid and in my opinion unlikely.”
Fall sports deemed high-risk include football and volleyball.
“On a positive note, we are offering two weight-room sessions daily,” said Zarrella. “One in the morning and one in the afternoon. Students must stay in their hybrid groups, and all CDC guidelines must be followed. We are also offering open gyms for boys and girls basketball and girls lacrosse.”
School officials from Onteora and New Paltz were unavailable for comment.
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