Suffolk School Sports Postponed Until 2021 Due To Coronavirus

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — All Suffolk County school sports will be postponed until 2021, Section XI announced Friday. Interscholastic athletics won't resume until Jan. 4 at the earliest due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Section XI’s Athletic Council voted this week to postpone the fall season and condense all three seasons — fall, winter, spring — from January through June. Section XI will run three complete seasons for the varsity, junior varsity and modified levels. These seasons will allow all teams to play an adapted season with a culminating championship event.

Among the reasons for the postponement are the potential for increased positive cases of COVID-19; the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, officials and staff members; a reduced number of spectators; a lack of locker room and facility use; increased costs in transportation and security for school districts; and equity among all school districts, according to Section XI.

"While this was a difficult decision, we feel it was the best move for the health and safety of everyone involved," Section XI Executive Director Tom Combs said in news release. "We still have a lot of hard work ahead in planning and executing on the three seasons across six months in 2021, but we look forward to the challenge and collaboration with our member schools and providing an impactful experience for our student-athletes and coaches."

The seasons will run as follows:

Varsity and junior varsity

• Season 1 (Winter), Jan. 4-Feb. 27
• Season 2 (Fall), March 1-May 1
• Season 3 (Spring), April 26-June 19

Modified sports

• Season 1 (Winter), Jan. 4-Feb. 6
• Season 2 (Late Winter), Feb. 8-March 20
• Season 3 (Fall), March 22-May 8
• Season 4 (Spring), May 10-June 12

Section XI made the decision in conjunction with its Athletic Council, Suffolk County athletic directors, Safety Committee and Suffolk County Executive Board.

The 2020 fall sports season in Nassau County was postponed in August.