Saranac Lake runners, from left, Tucker Jakobe, Peter Fogarty, Micah McCulley, James Catania and Andrew Fogarty lead the pack at the start of the opening cross country meet of the season Sept. 10, 2019, at Dewey Mountain Recreation Area in Saranac Lake. The Red Storm went on to repeat as Class C state champion. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

LATHAM — The officers of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced Thursday, July 16 that they voted to delay the official start date of the fall sports season, cancel the fall regional and state championships and prepare to implement a condensed season schedule in January 2021 if high school sports remain prohibited throughout 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This decision comes at the recommendation of the NYSPHSAA COVID-19 Task Force when they convened as a working group for the third time on July 16.

“As the state considers reopening, it is unrealistic to believe athletic seasons can start on Aug. 24 as originally scheduled,” NYSPHSAA President Paul Harrica said in a press release. “The priority will continue to be on the educational process and a return to learning in the safest way possible.”

The decision includes:

¯ delaying the fall sports start date until Monday, Sept. 21;

Sebastian Narvaez of the Lake Placid Blue Bombers heads the ball toward the goal past Northern Adirondack defender Josh Allen during the second half of a September 2019 match in Lake Placid. Also pictured for Lake Placid is Cooper Grady. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

¯ canceling the fall regional and state championship events;

¯ waiving the seven-day practice rule;

¯ maintaining current practice requirements;

¯ encouraging geographic scheduling for games and contests;

¯ and giving schools the option, if permitted by state officials, to offer off-season conditioning workouts.

Emma St. Pierre, a senior captain on the Tupper Lake girls varsity soccer team, passes the ball in August 2018 during team warm-ups. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

“We recognize this is challenging for everyone, but the decisions made at the state level are based upon data and statewide infection rates in an effort to stop the spread of COVID and reopen responsibly,” NYSPHSAA Executive Director Robert Zayas said in a press release. “At this time, Department of Health guidance presented on July 13 prohibits interscholastic athletics across the state. The association will continue to follow state guidance and will work collectively with state officials to ensure high school athletics will start up responsibly in the future. As an association, we must be willing to be flexible and continue to explore all options with students’ safety as our main focus.”

With regional differences, schools and areas will be impacted differently by the COVID-19 crisis. At the discretion of the NYSPHSAA officers and authorization from state officials, a condensed season plan will be implemented if — by Sept. 21 — the fall sports season is not able to resume this calendar year.

The condensed plan would entail the following three 10-week sports seasons between January and June, with tentative dates:

¯ Season 1 (winter sports): Jan. 4 to March 13

¯ Season 2 (fall sports): March 1 to May 8

Saranac Lake senior Ben Munn sends Beekmantown’s Andrew Vannatten to the ground while picking 11 yards on a pass reception in an October 2019 football game. (Enterprise photo — Lou Reuter)

¯ Season 3: (spring sports): April 5 to June 12.

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(Editor’s note: Look for more on this in tomorrow’s Enterprise.)