Student-athletes and coaches across Section XI have used the downtime this spring to do good in their communities.

Bay Shore athletics hosted a food drive recently that generated two pick up trucks worth of food and more than $500 in donations for St. Patrick’s Food Pantry.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) held its first meeting of the COVID-19 Task Force on Wednesday, June 10.

The Task Force is comprised of school district superintendents, high school principals, athletic directors, NYSPHSAA officers, as well as a representative from the New York State Athletic Administrators Association, an athletic trainer, a district transportation director, and members of New York State Education Department and New York State Department of Health.

The Task Force heard reports and updates from the Governor Cuomo’s office, the New York State Education Department and the New York State Health Department pertaining to the COVID-19 crisis and the impact it has had upon education and the reopening of schools.

“Having representatives from these offices provide reports today was extremely beneficial to the work that the Task Force will do over the course of the next few months,” said NYSPHSAA President and Task Force Chair, Paul Harrica.  “From the reports provided, it is clear school district facilities cannot be opened for student participation until Phase 4 is entered. The health and safety of our student-athletes remains our top priority.”

On Friday, the Task Force will release guidance pertaining to on-campus summer conditioning workouts as well as an update to its Frequently Asked Questions document that NYSPHSAA released on May 7^th.  School districts are encouraged to get acclimated with CDC and local health department guidance as well Governor Cuomo’s restrictions, local laws and policies.

The Task Force also discussed and examined the result of a COVID-19 survey, distributed by NYSPHSAA, to gather a statewide perspective on the impacts and potential response to the COVID-19 crisis; roughly 6,000 athletic directors, administrators, and coaches submitted responses to the survey.

Results of the survey can be found here!

“Today’s meeting was our first step in addressing concerns and examining readily available information related to the COVID-19 crisis,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director. “We are all focused on providing student-athletes with the opportunity to participate this fall with guidance from the Department of Health and in accordance with Governor Cuomo’s restrictions.”

The next meeting of the NYSPHSAA COVID-19 Task Force will take place at the end of this month with a date and time to be announced next week.

The NYSPHSAA COVID-19 Task Force will meet for the first time on Wednesday, June 10.

“We need to continue to examine information and be patient,” said NYSPHSAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas. “With so much that is still unknown and nearly three months before the start of school, there are a lot of possibilities and scenarios to explore. Stay safe and stay positive.”

Dr. Zayas also posted a survey to Twitter that the NYSPHSAA conducted, polling nearly 6,000 superintendents, principals, athletic directors and coaches about COVID-19 and their expectations to resume scholastic sports this fall.

“Great data to help guide the COVID-19 Task Force,” he tweeted. “Gathering a statewide perspective is important.”

All survey data is available here.

Section XI’s leadership team will be meeting in the next week to discuss the formation of a Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

“We must listen and take action,” said Tom Combs, Executive Director of Section XI. “Our children deserve better. We are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Section XI will be part of the solution as we constructively combat racism and hate.”

Section XI will share more information about the new committee and constructive plans moving forward.

Section XI has three coaches who are being recognized by the National Federation of High School Sports as Coaches of the Year in their respective sports.

The three are:

• Ron Eden, Brentwood soccer
• Mike Bowler, Rocky Point lacrosse
• Scott Wallace, Harborfields soccer

So many teams and programs have missed their winter and spring sports award ceremonies due to the pandemic, but that did not stop some from giving out hardware on front lawns.

This is Central Islip girls basketball celebrating their season, including Coach Venturi with his 100-win plaque.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association held its quarterly meeting of its Executive Committee via video teleconference for the first time in the history of the Association. The Committee voted on several key proposals important to the Association’s 788-member schools.

The Executive Committee unanimously approved a football proposal effective fall 2020.  With section approval, a contestant or team, may participate in no more than ten interschool football contests, exclusive of sectional championships.  The committee also approved advancing the regional rotations from 2020 to 2021 for the sports of boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys lacrosse, and girls lacrosse. for the winter of 2021 and spring of 2021.

Championship sites were approved for the sports of boys soccer (Middletown High School, 2021-23), gymnastics (Kenmore High School, 2022-24), boys and girls bowling (AMF Strike ‘N Spare Lanes-Syracuse, 2012-23).  As a result of the cancellation of numerous state championships due to COVID-19, a one-year extension was approved to grant the Cool Insuring Arena (boys basketball) and Hudson Valley Community College (girls basketball) to host NYSPHSAA winter state championships through 2023.  A one-year extension was approved to additionally grant Binghamton (baseball through 2022), Mark Twain Golf Course (boys golf through 2023), SUNY Cortland (girls lacrosse through 2023), Hofstra University (boys lacrosse through 2023), Moriches Athletic Complex (softball through 2023) and Cicero North Syracuse High School (outdoor track & field moved to 2024) to host NYSPHSAA spring state championships.

Bayport-Blue Point Athletic Director Tim Mullins was also approved as an incoming NYSPHSAA officer. He will begin serving his term as second Vice President of NYSPHSAA on September 1, 2020.