A meeting of the Colonial Council Athletic League consisting of superintendents, principals, and athletic directors was held virtually Friday morning to assess the risk factors associated with “moderate risk fall sports.”
They released the following statement:
“We, as a league, believe it is essential to err universally, on the side of caution, as we navigate the COVID pandemic situation. Recognizing that we have recently returned to school and are still assessing the impact of the coronavirus, the Colonial Council Athletic League has elected to move cross country (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls), and girls’ swimming and diving to Fall II with a March 1 start date. The low risk sports of golf and girls tennis will begin on September 21.
This late announcement is due in part to ensuring all aspects of athletics and student athletes’ safety was assessed, with input from as many school district representatives as possible before coming to a final decision. In addition to safety factors, the availability of transportation, schools’ practice and playing fields were also taken into consideration. We are all in agreement that extracurricular activities are an essential part of a student’s junior and senior high school experience, however, safety and the ability to adhere to CDC, DOH and SED guidelines is paramount. As we progress into the winter and spring, a greater sense of normalcy will hopefully resume, which in turn will allow us to create a more traditional practice and contest schedule. School districts in the Colonial Council will continue to update their websites and communicate with their stakeholders as more information is available.”
What this means for Cohoes
It was announced previously that football and volleyball would be moved to the Fall II season. The addition of cross country and soccer means that all Cohoes fall sports will be shifted to Fall II, set to begin March 1.
From Jeff Huneau, Athletic Director
“While we’re disappointed to have to postpone our fall season, we have to do what’s best for our student-athletes. Given the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we believe this is the safest option for our students and our school community. We remain committed to providing an athletics program that helps develop well-rounded, determined students. We can’t wait to see them back on the field, in the gym and around the track. Until then, we’ll all still aim to exemplify The Tiger Way.“