Low-Risk High School Sports May Resume Sept. 21 in NY, Football Remains on Hold

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FROM GOV. ANDREW CUOMO: “Schools are back, and working through that issue. The question of youth sports has come up. The state has done a lot of research on youth sports and the guidance we’ve come up with is this. What’s called lower risk sports: tennis, soccer, cross-country, field hockey, swimming can start in all regions of the state – can practice and play – starting September 21.

“So schools will be coming back, there will be a little bit of a period to gauge what’s happening and on September 21 they can start to practice and play all across the state. There is guidance posted by the Department of Health on just how they should do it. But there will be no travel, practice or play permitted outside of the school’s region. So, a school can play in the region. They can play with the contiguous region our county but nothing outside of that until October 19th. Again we’re doing this in phases. We want to see what the effect is; We want to see how it works. Schools opening in general is a big question mark. What would the effect be?

“The Fall is a big question mark. Many of the experts are suggesting that may be a second wave or reoccurrence so phasing it will allow us to watch it. The higher risk sports,” where there is full physical contact, like politics: Tackle football, wrestling, rugby ice hockey, may continue to practice but they’re not authorized to play at this point.”