September 14, 2020
Dear Galway CSD Parents and Guardians,
Recently there have been several updates regarding Interscholastic Athletics in New York State and Section 2. In late August, The New York State Department of Health (DOH) and Governor Cuomo gave approval for low and moderate risk Fall sports (Cross Country, Soccer, Volleyball, and Golf) to begin practicing and competing on Monday, September 21, 2020. Wednesday, September 9 New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) released a decision to push volleyball (considered a high risk sport) to a “Fall 2” season beginning on March 1, 2021. The decision also moved the Spring sport (Baseball, Softball, Track & Field) start date to April 19, 2021. Last week, Section 2 Athletics released their support for beginning the low and moderate risk fall sports on September 21, 2020 in accordance with the NYSPHSAA Return to Interscholastic Athletics Resource Document. Today, the Western Athletic Conference (the league Galway plays in) made the decision to move forward with only low risk, varsity, Fall sports.
Therefore, Galway Jr/Sr High School plans to offer the following varsity sports during the respective dates according to NYSPHSAA schedules.
Fall 1 (Sept 21 - Nov 28): Girls Varsity Cross Country, Boys Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Golf
Winter (Nov 20 - Feb 26): Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, Wrestling, Cheerleading
Fall 2 (Mar 1 - End date TBA): Girls Volleyball, Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer
Spring (April 19 - End Date TBA): Softball, Baseball, Track & Field
Section 2 Athletics, with input from their member schools, may choose to withdraw from NYSPHSAA this academic year to allow for more flexibility and a schedule that is better suited to the Section 2 area. As with most things during this pandemic, the information provided here is subject to change throughout the year. For the most up to date information, please check the Galway Athletics website by clicking this link.
If you registered your child for Girls Soccer, Boys Soccer, or Girls Volleyball on FamilyID, you will receive an email asking you to cancel or change their registration to Varsity Girls Cross Country, Varsity Boys Cross Country or Varsity Golf this fall. Please be sure to complete the registration by Thursday, September 17, 2020. Please continue to be patient as we adjust to this new season schedule and parameters and try to provide as many safe opportunities as possible for our students. Please review the following pages for more information. As always, if you have questions pertaining to athletics, please call or email.
Thank you,
Elise Britt
Athletic Director/Assistant Principal
[email protected]
518-882-1033 ext. 3218
Helpful Links, Information, and Directions Regarding Galway Athletics
1. Western Athletic Conference Statement - Click Link
2. Fall Sports Registration
a. If you have NOT registered for any fall sport yet, but would like to, please click the following link to sign up on FamilyID. Modified (Grades 7 and 8) athletics will not be offered in this Fall 1 season.
b. If you have already registered for a fall sport that is no longer being offered, please go into your FamilyID account and either cancel your registration or change your registration to one of the three varsity level sports (Boys Cross Country, Girls Cross Country, Golf) we are offering this Fall 1 season (Beginning Sept 21).
3. Season Start Dates, per NYSPHSAA (Subject to chance).
a. Winter - November 30, 2020
b. Fall 2 - March 1, 2021
c. Spring - April 19, 2021
4. No modified sports in the Fall 1 Season
a. There is a chance modified sports may run in the Fall 2 season. At this point, modified and JV sports are not ruled out, but they are not guaranteed.
5. Can a 7th or 8th grader play on the Varsity Team?
a. Typically, a 7th or 8th grade student that has been asked by the varsity coach to participate at the varsity level needs to complete the Athletic Placement Process (APP). Due to the current conditions, the APP will not be occurring this fall.
b. If a student passed the APP as a 7th grader last year, they are now still clear to play varsity as an 8th grade student.
6. If a student originally signed up for volleyball or soccer, can they change their registration and play golf or cross country this fall, while still remaining eligible to play volleyball or soccer during the Fall 2 Season?
a. Yes - Students could essentially participate in 4 varsity seasons (this year only). For example, a student could run cross country in the fall 1 season, wrestle in the winter season, play soccer in the Fall 2 season, and baseball in the spring season.
7. Spectators
a. When we do hold Cross Country meets or Golf matches this fall, each athlete is limited to 2 spectators. This will be strictly enforced and a meet or match will be stopped if this is not adhered to.
b. The Western Athletic Conference will be meeting on Wednesday to put together a uniform protocol for spectators and athletes at visiting schools to administer screening and contact tracing.
c. The Western Athletic Conference protocols will be added to the athletics website. Please review prior to attending a competition at Galway or another school.
8. The NYSPHSAA has released a Return To Interscholastic Athletics resource document. The guidelines from NYS, DOH, and NYSPHSAA are detailed in the document, as well as sport specific directions to keeping our students, families, and community members safe.
9. Locker Rooms & Restrooms - The district and league are still working out these details. More information will be released soon.
10. Screening and Contact Tracing for athletes
a. Coaches will take attendance each day (practices and competitions) for contact tracing purposes.
b. Students must complete the Galway Daily Health Screening before entering the school.
11. Transportation
a. Practices will take place on Galway Campus after school. If a student-athlete is not in school due to remote learning or a virtual day, they must find their own way to school.
b. Away games - The team bus will be limited to 24 passengers, and the bus will leave from the High School parking lot. It is the student's responsibility to get to campus on remote or virtual days.
12. Off-season conditioning
a. Per the NYSPHSAA Return to Interscholastic Athletics Resource Document, off-season conditioning will be permitted after Sept 21, 2020 with the approval of the use of facilities, and following the DOH guidelines.