High School Spring Sports season in the air as NYSPHSAA provides update amid Coronavirus crisis; local schools begin cancellation of events

On Thursday, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) officially made the announcement that all winter sports championship events, including the Far West Regional and State Championships for boys and girls basketball have been suspended indefinitely, due to the rising Coronavirus concerns.

The hope in the NYSPHSAA’s newest update, which was released today (March 13, 2020), is to continue and finish the winter sports season under cautious optimism, but only if and when they are able to resume once again. As for the Spring sports season, no information was provided, as it remains in the air at the moment. Local school districts in Allegany County have begun releasing statements to the public.

As of today, all schools have begun cancelling events schoolwide and outside of the County, including school trips and other academic events. In the athletic department, Thursday’s Exceptional Senior All-Star Basketball game at Cuba-Rushford was postponed until a later date at Cuba-Rushford, as well as the 35th Annual Ronald McDonald House All-Star Charity game at Rush-Henrietta.

Locally, Belfast and Genesee Valley school districts have pressed the pause button by suspending all athletic contests up until the end of the month, where they will re-assess the situation regarding the global concern. Practices however, for all sports, will continue but under limited capacities.

Elsewhere in the County, Friendship Central School has suspended all participation in Spring sports indefinitely until further notice, while Wellsville Central School has begun cancelling all activities, including the Varsity softball team’s annual Spring Break trip to Virginia. Schools around the County have also, under the guidance from the Allegany County Department of Health, and the announcement made by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Thursday, have implemented a ban on large social gatherings beginning today in efforts to reduce and contain the spread of the virus.

The NYSPHSAA says that for multi-sport athletes, there are no restrictions for winter athletes to compete in Spring sports at the same time during the winter sports hiatus, but it is a decision that ultimately lays in the hands of the respective school district and/or its Section. 

“One thing that I have learned in the past 72 hours, is not to attempt to predict what will occur with this rapidly developing situation,” said NYSPHSAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas. “As information becomes available, decisions will be made in the best interests of the student-athletes we serve.”

The chain reaction of events have resonated throughout the entire sports world in the past 48 hours after a positive Coronavirus test was identified in Utah Jazz star players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. The domino effect resulted in the majority of sports leagues nationally, and across the globe putting a halt on their seasons due to the concerns, including the NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS, NASCAR, the PGA Tour, the ATP, the XFL and the cancellation of both Division I NCAA men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments.

The NFL has cancelled their annual owner’s meeting, which was slated to take place at the end of March due to the concerns, but there are no plans to alter the start of their season at this time.

For more information regarding the Coronavirus concerns and tips to stop the spread of the virus, visit the Allegany County website or your respective school district’s webpage to search for statements made by your local superintendent.

To stay informed regarding the situations regarding the high school sports season in lieu of the Coronavirus, you can visit the NYSPHSAA website at nysphsaa.org.

When more information becomes available, we will provide it when it happens. I wish continued good health to you all. Stay safe everyone.