Home Forums Long Island & Eastern New York Soccer Message Boards Roll Away The Stone Soccer News Suffolk sports officials postpone fall sports until January 2021

By Gregg Sarra
gregg.sarra@newsday.com @Gregg_Sarra

Suffolk County high school sports officials have postponed all sports until Jan. 4 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We had a difficult task at hand, that was thoroughly investigated, and the most prudent decision was rendered,” said Tom Combs, the executive director for Section XI, the governing body of Suffolk high school sports. “We really had no alternative seeing the potential for an increase in positive cases of COVID-19. The health and safety of our student athletes, coaches, officials and staff members is paramount to starting this fall.”

The decision was made after a meeting Friday of the county's Athletic Council, a group comprised of athletic directors, teachers and an executive board.

Combs said all fall sports -- boys and girls soccer, field hockey, girls tennis, girls golf, boys and girls cross country and girls swimming -- will move into the three condensed seasons plan from January to June.

His plans are to accommodate every high school sport in complete seasons. The fall sports season will run from March 1 to May 1 but there is a possibility that a few sports will move seasons to ensure no overlap in seasons.

“We see our plan as one that will allow full seasons for all sports with no overlap. And that’s a real positive for us,” Combs said.

Nassau's Section VIII announced on Aug. 26 that it will not have high school sports in the fall and will play three compressed seasons between January and June in 2021.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced on Aug. 24 that low-risk sports — he named soccer, swimming, field hockey, cross country and tennis — may return to practice and play on Sept. 21.

On Wednesday, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced that football, volleyball and cheerleading -- deemed as high-risk -- were postponed until March 1.

asshats

So much for the 15 day flattening of the curve!!!! I

If the country took this serious in March, April and May - this weekend would be the first weekend of high school sports in NYS.

Stop lying to the kids just tell them the truth no sports this year afraid of lawsuits

I guess coronavirus can tell the difference between club sports and school sports since every club sport is playing right now.

Actually, the lockdowns are what is responsible for extending the duration of the pandemic rather than us just getting over with it quickly.

so how long until Soccer leagues shut it down?

Actually, club sports should not played this Fall, but unlike school sports, clubs sports are going with the money. No club sports means no money for those that are leading you folks into possible health problems. I include EDP, NYCSL, and all the ENYYSA leagues.

no, clubs should play. they've been played all summer. Its been great! Tournaments, leagues, of all sports - all went well!

It's great? Why any parent would gamble with their child's health is mind-boggling, especially over something so trivial as soccer.

Stop feeding the pandemic. All over the country kids are playing and NOT 1 outbreak has been shown because of it.

Number will never be 0. So give up on life. Larry you are def wrong on this one. Let’s teach our future when you get kicked just lay down and cry. That’s the participation trophy movement!!!

Where is your documentation. I understand you have an opinion, but you have no true knowledge about what you are spouting.

How many of these thousands of college kids that got Covid went to Hosp.....uh.....zero! Think about that. But at least it will completely end in a November. November 4th to be exact. Just watch

Another genius with warped priorities. Did it ever occur to you that you may be wrong? What part of 190,000* dead and how about the thousands who have survived with life-long health issues. You must be a great parent, NOT!!

Can you back up your statement with your source(s) for your statement? I bet you can't.

Understood, but I don’t believe for a second those making decisions to not play are doing so “with the best interest and health of kids in mind”. It’s much more due to their own self interests and their inability to develop a plan with contingencies in advance

I gamble every day with my children's health. I let them ride their bike. That is a gamble that they could fall and get hurt. But they wear a helmet and we taught them the rules of safe riding. I let them play in the ocean and they could get hurt but we taught them how to swim and to swim near lifeguards and we watch them closely too. They go to the mall and that could be dangerous but we taught them how to best protect themselves there too. WHy is the Covid so much different. why do you think it is crazy to let kids play when it is done with many safety precautions.

If I told you that I thought it was unsafe to ride a bike, or play in the ocean or anything like that, do I get to tell you that you have to stop your kids from doing that or that you are crazy for letting your kid do those things.

You make a good point. Taking it a step further, I believe their priority is the school day and not after-school. Keeping all their resources focused on the learning and not the playing, IMO, is the right choice.

I think it’s more about lawsuits my daughter is only going to school two days a week.

If they don't play any sports in school this year, I want 1/3 to 1/2 of my school taxes back.

That is quite a post. Quite a post.

Great post considering that the schools that have delayed opening is from TEACHERS And STAFF that have tested positive for coronavirus not the kids.

Oh boy, I guess you can rationalize anything and make an argument that serves your purpose. Covid 19 is an “air born” virus which makes it even more dangerous than other viruses because it can spread that much quicker. Your “every day” argument that Anything at anytime could happen is not even in the same category of the dangers of Covid which scientist still don’t know the long term effects even after a person who contracted it and now tests negative. No one know the extent it will effect your lungs or your heart muscle. Without understanding the true nature of this virus is what makes this more dangerous than the everyday occurrences you mention. The safety precautions and 5 guidelines is to slow down the spread Not to cure. It’s clear people will not listen to those guidelines and that’s why we are in such a time of indecision and uncertainty. Schools as well as both counties are concentrating making sure your child and every child does not gamble with their health and makes school as safe as possible. Schoo sports is an after thought.