UPDATE: Some Sports Suspended in Suffolk County

 2nd UPDATE: Several high school winter sports were indefinitely postponed Friday by the governing body of athletics for Suffolk County.

 “Section XI is not cancelling we are following the State and indefinitely postponing until more information is received from the Governor,” the organization said. Earlier, the organization had said, ” Please be advised that due to the ever evolving Covid situation we are living with, NYSPHSAA has informed us (please see attached press release) that HIGH RISK sports are still on PAUSE as Governor Cuomo has not approved them due to the high numbers of Covid cases around the state for the upcoming WINTER season. To that end, we are now notifying you OFFICIALLY that the following sports will NOT take place in Section XI for the Winter 2021 season”

Boys basketball and girls basketball, wrestling and competitive cheerleading seasons will not run this year, according to a letter from Section XI.

Also suspended were:

Early Modified Sports:

Girls Volleyball

Boys Basketball

Competitive Cheer

Late Winter Modified Sports: 

Boys Volleyball

Girls Basketball

Wrestling

Some sports will be allowed to continue, because they are considered low or moderate risk.

Winter High School Sports: 

Boys Swimming and Diving

Boys Winter Track

Girls Winter Track

Boys Fencing

Girls Fencing

Boys Bowling

Girls Bowling

Earlier in the day. the governing body for public school athletics in New York State announced that all state winter athletic championships are canceled, and high-risk sports postponed.

“When examining the feasibility of Winter State Championships, it became apparent that travel and overnight accommodations would create a unique challenge for our member schools,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, New York State Public High School Athletic Association executive director. “At this time, we must prioritize maximizing student participation without a focus on championship events.”

The association’s decision to postpone all high-risk sports until authorization is granted was reinforced by the increase in Covid-19 infection and hospitalization rates across the state.

The New York State Department of Health has determined the following NYSPHSAA-endorsed sports to be high risk: basketball, boys lacrosse, competitive cheerleading, football, ice hockey, volleyball, and wrestling.

The cancellation of the winter state championships (bowling, basketball, boys swimming and diving, competitive cheerleading, gymnastics, indoor track and field, ice hockey, skiing, and wrestling) addresses membership concerns associated with increased travel, hotel accommodations, transportation logistics and the planning for meals 

“As an educator, I am witnessing first-hand the challenges our member schools are facing each day in addressing this pandemic,” said Julie Bergman, NYSPHSAA president. “It is important we continue listening to the concerns being expressed by our membership when making decisions impacting interscholastic athletics.”

Low- and moderate-risk regular season sports continue to be permitted. The 2021 NYSPHSAA Spring State Championships remain on the schedule.

 

 

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