The New York City Department of Health (DOH) has cleared athletes in the outdoor high-risk, high school sports of football and lacrosse to begin competitive games in mid-April.
The Catholic High School Football League announced Catholic high schools in New York City will begin a shortened four-game schedule of games April 17. Practice will begin April 5.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced high-risk sports could begin Feb. 1, with final approval from local officials. CHSAA high-risk sports athletes began having practices and games in February in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island. The Catholic High School Football League had its first games March 12 for programs in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Department of Health announced March 8 that New York City schools may begin having high-risk sports athletes train April 5, start official team practice April 26 and compete May 15. The department of health has since changed this, permitting high-risk outdoor sports of football and lacrosse to start competing a month earlier.
High-risk sports are ones where Covid-19 may be more prone to spread among athletes, coaches and officials. These sports are football, basketball, lacrosse, volleyball, competitive cheer, wrestling and ice hockey. High school football and lacrosse are the only sports in this group normally contested outdoors.