Citing the necessity to give attention to reopening colleges in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Part 1 athletics introduced Thursday it might delay the beginning of the autumn sports activities season till Sept. 29.

No exercises or practices will likely be permitted at any Part 1 faculty previous to that date and a district can select to delay its season past that primarily based on its particular person wants.

“As all the time, the Part has made the security and well-being of our student-athletes, coaches, officers, and communities its high precedence,” govt director Todd Santabarbara stated in an announcement launched after Part 1’s Government Committee met Thursday morning. “As we speak’s choices by the Government Committee represents a steadiness between supporting colleges as they reopen amid this advanced and unprecedented time, whereas additionally offering for the secure return for our student-athletes to interscholastic competitors.”

The beginning of the autumn season had initially been scheduled to start with preseason observe on Aug. 24, but it surely was delayed 4 weeks. Gov. Andrew Cuomo introduced final month that sports activities deemed low-risk and moderate-risk by the state Division of Well being might start observe Sept. 21 and could be allowed to compete in interscholastic occasions this fall. Most of these sports activities — cross-country, area hockey, soccer and women tennis — will now be allowed to begin Sept. 29 in Part 1.