Hours after issuing yet another delay in the start of high-risk winter sports for the 2020-21 season, NYSPHSAA's executive director says it definitely beats the alternative.

"We're not going to cancel prematurely," said Robert Zayas on a statewide Zoom call Tuesday afternoon. "We're not going to make a decision, in November, to cancel the winter sports season."

What You Need To Know

  • NYSPHSAA has once again delayed the start of high-risk winter sports until January 4

  • Low-risk sports, like bowling, skiing, and indoor track, can begin practicing November 30

  • Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas says he will only cancel the winter sports season when it's absolutely necessary

  • The 2020-21 state winter sports championships are still on as scheduled

After initially decreeing that high-risk sports such as basketball, wrestling, and ice hockey could begin practicing on December 14, on Tuesday that start date was pushed back three weeks to Monday, January 4. Zayas says there is no significance attached to that date, but it will give his office more time to work with state health officials to determine whether or not it's feasible for those sports to begin.

The move isn't surprising, considering the recent uptick in COVID-19 infection cases across the state, and the entire country. Zayas points out the new start date could change again in December, depending on what type of guidance the association receives from the state Department of Health.

"We have to be flexible, we have to be willing to pivot, when needed," he said. "I don't think we should go ahead and put anything in stone during this crisis. As we've done for the past eight months, we're constantly analyzing and examining readily available information. And, when a decision is necessary, we make that decision based on the information that we have, and then get ready to make the next decision."

Zayas says there are nearly 600,000 student-athletes, spread across the state's 11 sections, who are holding out hope for a chance to participate in interscholastic athletics this year, even amid a pandemic. He says he takes that responsibility very seriously, pledging to do everything in his power to provide that opportunity.

As evidence of that effort, Zayas points to the creation of a "Fall Sports II" season next spring, which will give football and volleyball players a chance to compete after their high-risk sports seasons were postponed this fall. It's clear that, in his mind, canceling is the last resort.

"We are not going to cancel before it would be absolutely necessary, as we were forced to do back in March," he said. "At this point in time, I'm optimistic, and I'm hopeful that we're going to be able to provide participation opportunities for all student-athletes, in all sports, during this school year."