High-Risk NY High School Sports Indefinitely Postponed

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — The governing body of New York state high school sports has canceled the winter championships for all high-risk sports. And following state guidelines, all of those sports are now on pause in Nassau County, with no set date for when they could begin.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced Friday the championships for all winter sports — including bowling, boys and girls basketball, wrestling and indoor track and field — were canceled. Additionally, all high-risk sports are postponed until authorization is granted by the state. Sports were supposed to start on Jan. 4.

"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," athletic association Executive Director Robert Zayas said. "At this time, we must prioritize maximizing student participation without a focus on championship events."

In addition, the athletic association indefinitely postponed all high-risk sports, not just those that are usually played in the winter. This includes basketball, football, lacrosse, cheerleading, hockey and volleyball.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the fall sports season was delayed to 2021. All three sports seasons — fall, winter and spring — were going to be played in a condensed manner from January through May.

Low-risk sports — those that don't involve much or any contact between participants — are still scheduled to begin in January. Winter sports will likely still be played, but there will be no championships.