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Section XI News

NYSPHSAA To Delay Fall Sports Start Date & Cancel Fall Championships

The Officers of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), voted to delay the official start date of the Fall 2020 sports season, cancel the Fall 2020 Regional and State Championships and prepare to implement a condensed season schedule in January 2021 if high school sports remain prohibited throughout 2020 due to COVID-19.

This decision comes at the recommendation of the NYSPHSAA COVID-19 Task Force when they convened as a working group for the third time this morning.

“As the state considers reopening, it is unrealistic to believe athletic seasons can start on August 24th as originally scheduled,” said Paul Harrica, NYSPHSAA President. “The priority will continue to be on the educational process and a return to learning in the safest way possible.”

The NYSPHSAA Officers’ decision includes:

  • Delay Fall sports start date until Monday, September 21st (NYSPHSAA PAUSE)
  • Cancel Fall Regional and State Championship events
  • Waive seven-day practice rule
  • Maintain current practice requirements
  • Encourage geographic scheduling for games & contests
  • Schools would have the option, if permitted by state officials, to offer off-season conditioning workouts.

“We recognize this is challenging for everyone, but the decisions made at the State level are based upon data and statewide infection rates all in an effort to stop the spread of COVID and reopen responsibly,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “At this time, Department of Health guidance presented on July 13th prohibits interscholastic athletics across the state. The Association will continue to follow state guidance and will work collectively with State officials to ensure high school athletics will start up responsibly in the future. As an association, we must be willing to be flexible and continue to explore all options with students’ safety as our main focus.”

With regional differences, schools and areas will be impacted differently by the COVID-19 crisis. At the discretion of the NYSPHSAA Officers and authorization from state officials, if the Fall sports seasons are interrupted or impacted by COVID-19 crisis (i.e. state official guidance, school closings, cancelation of high-risk sports, etc.) then a condensed seasons plan will be implemented. The Condensed Season plan would entail the following, with the stipulated dates being tentative.

Season I (Winter Sports) Dates: Jan. 4-Mar. 13 (Week 27-36) 10 Weeks *Note: tentative dates Sports: basketball (girls & boys), bowling (girls & boys), gymnastics, ice hockey (girls & boys), indoor track & field (girls & boys), skiing (girls & boys), swimming (boys), *wrestling, *competitive cheer.

*Because of high risk nature of wrestling and competitive cheer, sports may have to be moved to Season II or season III.

Season II (Fall Sports) Dates: Mar. 1-May 8 (Week 35-44) 10 Weeks *Note: tentative dates Sports: football, cross country (girls & boys), field hockey, soccer (girls & boys), swimming (girls), volleyball (girls & boys), Unified bowling.

Note: Weather will have an impact upon outdoor sports in some parts of the state in March and potentially early April. Girls Tennis moved to Season III.

Season III (Spring Sports) Dates: Apr. 5-Jun. 12 (Week 40-49) 10 Weeks *Note: tentative dates Sports: baseball, softball, golf (girls & boys), lacrosse (girls & boys), tennis (girls & boys), outdoor track & field (girls & boys), Unified basketball.

The NYSPHSAA Officers have the ability to adjust seasons with the authority granted within the NYSPHSAA Constitution which states: “Article IV, 2: A committee of officers in consultation with the staff shall have the authority to act on all matters not provided for in this constitution and bylaws, and on such emergency business as may arise between regular meetings of the Executive Committee.”

In an effort to assist schools in complying with recently released NYSDOH guidance, the NYSPHSAA COVID-19 Task Force is supportive of the use of the ezSCRN application. The ezSCRN application provides a unique online tool for schools to utilize if screening is part of their reopening plan as it complies with New York state and national restrictions and guidelines (i.e. Ed 2D Law, etc.). The EzScrn application allows a school or team to easily screen, trace and track students/ staff and immediately notify school administrators and health care officials of anyone exhibits COVID-19 symptoms.

A full report, including meeting minutes, will be released later this week.

Section XI News

Remembrance: John Pfeffer, Bay Shore Coach, Dies

Section XI is sad to learn about the passing of longtime Bay Shore coach John Pfeffer. He died last week at 72.

Pfeffer coached multiple sports in Bay Shore for 44 years. The boys gymnastics teams were 203-60 and won two state titles over 23 years. He also coached middle school wrestling for 25 years. Those teams were 145-44. Along with his wife Allison, he coached girls lacrosse for 23 years and had a record of 310-104-7.

Our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Section XI News

John Glenn to Launch Athletic Hall of Fame in 2021

John Glenn Athletic Director Dave Shanahan tweeted that their athletic program will launch a Hall of Fame in May 2021.

“Congratulations to these outstanding men and women who have made a significant impact on John H. Glenn Athletics,” he wrote.

There are athletes and coaches being inducted from classes ranging from 1964 through 2012.

Perhaps the most well known is Ifeanyi Momah, who recently played in the NFL.

The full list is available on Shanahan’s JG Athletics Twitter post here …

Section XI News

NYSPHSAA Announces Smithtown HSW as Spring 2020 Community Service Challenge Champions

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) is proud to announce the Smithtown High School West (Section XI) football team as the winner of the Spring 2020 Community Service Challenge.

Smithtown West was chosen as the winning school by the NYSPHSAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), which is comprised of two current student-athletes from each of the 11 member sections.

Established in the fall of 2010, the program encourages students to stay active in their communities. For the past two years, NYSPHSAA has partnered with Team Up for Community to allow online submissions. The Team Up for Community portal provides schools the opportunity to showcase community service projects which ultimately fosters young peoples’ sense of civic engagement and community thus helping them achieve their educational, developmental and social goals.

Smithtown West football coach Ron Muscarella started a program called Football Feeds Front Liners to deliver meals to front line workers in local hospitals. His players shared information on social media, due the current social distancing mandates, they cannot go to hospitals to drop off food, or go out and fund raise. Football Feeds Front Liners was created in response to the COVID-19 crisis and the effect it is having on communities, the football team partnered with Sojak Events, a local production company, to organize the project. Donations are made to help purchase meals that allow Muscarella to bring breakfast or lunch to those who are putting their own lives on the line each day to help local families stay healthy and protected. So far, more than 400 meals, most recently delivering 50 meals to Long Island Community Hospital and over $3000 has been raised.

“Thank you for recognizing the Smithtown West football program, our great district, and community we are truly honored,” said Ron Muscarella, Smithtown West head football coach. “This movement of Football Feeds Front Liners was different than any other fundraiser I have ever done. Initially, the fundraiser was a challenge to other football programs in Suffolk County but it actually grew to other sports like Basketball, Cheerleading, and Kickline. It was great to see Suffolk County football and other athletic programs come together during a time when others were in need and to help as many healthcare heroes as we could.”

“Our new varsity football coach at Smithtown West, Ron Muscarella, came in wanting to establish himself as not only a very competent varsity football coach but as a role model, community conscious minded and student centered,” said Patrick Smith Coordinator of Physical Education, Health, Athletics and Nurses for Smithtown Central School District. “This project was certainly timely, necessary and rewarding to all involved. Ron has made a positive impact already with his players and the Smithtown community in the short period of time he has been with us.”

Smithtown West will be presented a physical award and recognized for their accomplishments at later date, still to be determined.

A total of 22 projects were submitted with 771 student-athletes participating in some type of community service project. In total, $26,500 was raised for charitable causes. For the 2019-20 school year, 17,427 student-athletes participated in 439 community service projects across New York State. A total of 91,513 hours was volunteered and $329,444 was raised for charitable causes.

Section XI News

WHB’s Chris Daleo named to 2020 NFF Team of Distinction

From a pool of 3,500 scholar-athletes, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced the 82 members of the 2020 NFF Team of Distinction.

Westhampton Beach’s Chris Daleo is Section XI’s representative for this prestigious honor. The team captain and first team all division selection had a 96 GPA and was class president.

The members of the team all played their final high school football season during the 2019-20 school year. As part of the award, all of the honorees will be part of a permanent digital display at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Criteria to make the team include but are not limited to academic achievement, athletic accolades and community involvement. Each chapter is limited to one honoree, distinguishing them as the top scholar-athlete from all the high schools covered by the chapter.

“This initiative allows us to shine a national spotlight on some of the most deserving high school student-athletes honored at the local level by our expansive Chapter Network,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “This honor is one of the most prestigious national awards that a high school player can receive, and it really brings into focus the phenomenal work that our chapters do in identifying the most outstanding young leaders in their communities. We would like to congratulate all 82 honorees, holding them out as examples for future generations to emulate.”

https://twitter.com/daleo_chris/status/1275475547825602560?s=20

Section XI News

NYSPHSAA’s Dr. Robert Zayas Determined to Play

NYSPHSAA executive director Dr. Robert Zayas determined to get seasons played when schools reopen

From Newsday:

The persistence of the coronavirus pandemic has left too many uncertainties to determine  if, when and how high school sports should return if Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo decides to re-open public schools. However, the NYSPHSAA is determined that high school athletes in every sport get a chance to compete whenever athletics is allowed to return.

“I’ve been in athletic administration for almost 20 years and the decision that had to be made three months ago to cancel the spring season was, by far, the most difficult decision that I had to be a part of as an executive director or an athletic administrator,” NYPHSAA executive director Dr. Robert Zayas said in a Zoom news conference Tuesday following a meeting of the association’s COVID-19 task force.

“It is my intention that no student have to be told what the spring sport athletes were told at the beginning of March. So it’s my commitment to the association and to all student athletes and their parents that we are doing everything we can, at this point in time, to ensure that every student gets the season that they want in the upcoming school year.

More: https://nwsdy.li/38gIkJe