OBSERVER File Photo New state guidance issued Thursday says youth soccer leagues can resume play July 6 as long as their region is in Phase 3 of New York PAUSE reopening.

Youth soccer can be played this summer after all.

Whether local leagues reverse their stance remains to be seen.

On Thursday, the New York State Department of Health released a 14-page document titled Interim Guidance For Sports and Recreation During The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

One of the biggest changes is found on Page 4 where soccer was added to the list of moderate-risk sports and recreation activities.

Just four days earlier, during his daily press briefing, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that low-risk youth sports for regions in Phase 3 could begin on July 6.

Included in the “low-risk” category Sunday were baseball, softball, gymnastics, field hockey, cross country and crew.

But on Thursday, in the 14-page document, examples of moderate-risk sports included baseball, softball, doubles tennis, badminton, racquetball, water polo, gymnastics, field hockey, non-contact lacrosse, swimming relays, soccer, crew, rafting and paintball.

New York State West Youth Soccer Association, the governing body for most local leagues acknowledged the announcement on its website Thursday, reposting the key portions of the document.

Representatives from several local leagues reached for contact Thursday evening felt like the point had already passed from which they would have enough time to organize a season.

“Effective July 6, 2020 in regions that have reached or surpassed Phase 3 of the state’s reopening and in accordance with this guidance, participants in lower and moderate risk sports and recreation activities may partake in all types of play, except competitive tournaments requiring travel,” the document reads. “Participants in higher risk sports and recreation activities may only partake in individual or distanced group training and organized no/low-contact group training.”

As of Thursday, the Western New York region was already in Phase 3, so unless COVID-19 numbers dictate otherwise, July 6 would be the first allowable day to play.

Examples of higher-risk sports not allowed until a later date include football, wrestling, ice hockey, rugby, basketball, contact lacrosse, volleyball and competitive cheer & dance.

More guidance for allowable sports includes:

– Responsible parties must limit spectators to no more than two spectators per player;

– Responsible parties must ensure that coaches, trainers and other individuals who are not directly engaged in physical activity are required to wear a face covering;

Several other requirements are listed in the document, which can be viewed at www.post-journal.com attached to this story.

Outdoor, low-risk recreational activities permitted immediately by Thursday’s guidance include: singles tennis; boat use and rentals of row boats, kayaks and canoes; golf and driving ranges; individual running; batting cages; hunting, shooting and archery; rock climbing; individual swimming; individual crew; cross-country running; horseshoes, bocce and bean bag toss; disc golf and frisbee; ropes courses; and other activities with similar abilities to maintain physical distance or limit exposure to shared equipment.