NYSPHSAA officials, section executive directors, sport coordinators and the COVID-19 Task Force released their Return to Interscholastic Athletics document to member schools Friday evening.

The document essentially put all mandates and orders from the government and NYSPHSAA over the past couple of months into one document.

“As NYSPHSAA and its 11 member sections continue to gather information pertaining to the COVID-19 virus and receive continued feedback the contents of this document may be revised,” the document states in its overview. “NYSPHSAA is committed to maximizing the interscholastic athletic opportunities for students across the state. Furthermore, NYSPHSAA will remain flexible in considering that certain sports may be impacted differently, and play may need to be modified at some point during the season.”

Sports will continue to be labeled Low Risk, Moderate Risk or High Risk based on New York State Department of Health guidelines.

OBSERVER File Photo Girls tennis, soccer and cross country will begin their fall seasons Sept. 21.

Low and moderate-risk sports (tennis, soccer, cross country, field hockey and swimming) may practice and play effective Sept. 21. However, travel for practice or play is prohibited outside of the school’s region or contiguous regions/counties until Oct. 19.

The date may seem a little misleading as far as playing games because athletes must take part in 10 practices before they are able to play in games. Assuming teams begin practices on Monday, Sept. 21, practice for six days before a one-day break and then practice another four days, the first high school games in New York state will be played Friday, Oct. 2.

Also on Sept. 21, higher-risk sports (football, wrestling, rugby, hockey and volleyball) can begin practicing in individual or group, no- to low-contract training (skills development) whereby contact between players may only be incidental and any activities that are specifically designed to promote close physical contact are prohibited. Those sports have yet to be allowed to play games.

If a school is closed for in-person education during the school year due to an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases, school-sponsored sports must be suspended until in-person education is resumed; provided, however, that this restriction does not apply to schools that are conducting only remote instruction.

“Participation in interscholastic athletics is certainly voluntary for both the individuals and the schools,” the document states. “NYSPHSAA recognizes school district superintendents and boards of education have the authority and autonomy to administer their district’s athletic programs as they deem appropriate.”

Fall sports will begin Sept. 21 and end at the discretion of the section, but cannot exceed 15 weeks. The seven-consecutive day rule will be waived beginning Oct. 12 to allow continuous practice or competition without a one-day break.

The start of winter sports has been delayed until Monday, Nov. 30 and the sections will determine the end date, but the season cannot exceed 22 weeks. As of now, state championships will proceed as scheduled.

Spring sports will start March 15 with a season that cannot exceed 15 weeks. As of now, spring state championships will also proceed as scheduled.

Spectators at sporting events in New York state will continue to be limited to 50% of the venue’s capacity and also limited to two spectators per athlete.

The document also contains considerations for individual sports:

¯ In cross country, for example, the state suggests widening the course to at least 6 feet at its narrowest point;

¯ In golf, participants should not exchange scorecards;

¯ In soccer, instead of a dropped ball, an indirect kick will be awarded to the team whom the referees deemed to be in possession at the time of stoppage;

¯ In swimming, only one person per lane should be permitted at the turning end. Provide hand sanitizer and require lap counters to clean hands and wipe down devices;

¯ In tennis, consider spraying tennis balls briefly with a disinfectant spray at the conclusion of play. Using new tennis balls on a regular basis is encouraged.

The complete document, including Frequently Asked Questions, can be found at http://www.nysphsaa.org/News-Media/Headline-News/Article/id/9644