NYSPHSAA pushes start of high-risk winter sports season to January

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has delayed the start of high-risk winter sports into 2021.

Pushed back the start of high-risk winter sports - now until the 2021 portion of the academic calendar.

The association announced today that the new anticipated start date for high-risk winter sports is january fourth.

This affects the sports of basketball - competitive cheer - ice hockey and wrestling.

Statewide - low to moderate risk winter sports are due to begin on november 30th.

However locally - section three has pushed the winter season back to december fourteenth...so this latest decision really only delays local teams by another couple of weeks.

According to the latest state guidance - high-risk sports are still not authorized for interscholastic play.

Nysphsaa officials say that along with concerns over an increase in infection rates statewide - they hope this latest delay will give teams a date to circle where they will be allowed to compete without restrictions.

Dr. robert zayas: the reason why january 4 is it gives us more time to work with state officials as they analyze their metrics and hopefully we will get authorization in some point during the month of december to begin on january 4.

But right now january 4 is just an arbitrary date that we are hoping and we are optimistic that we can receive authorization at some point.

We understand that state officials are extremely busy and they are inundated with issues and challenges and obstacles associated with the covid crisis so we are being patient and we are cognizant of the fact that there is a priority list and at this point in time high school sports is not at the top of the priority list and we can certainly understand why the association announced today that state championship events are still on as scheduled at the moment.

However - we have gotten confirmation from section three that with no sectional tournaments begin played - there will be no teams from the section participating in potential state championship events.

Coming up tonight at 11 - another utica city f-c