So who’s playing what in the fall?
Decisions differ from league to league and from sport to sport
Maple Hill senior striker/ midfielder Aiden Fletcher watched earlier this month as league after league throughout Section II decided to forgo playing varsity soccer this fall. Knowing that, Fletcher is not at all taking for granted opening up his season against Taconic Hills on Saturday in Patroon Conference play.
“I was a little worried, but I am happy all the superintendents in the Patroon Conference decided to have the season stay in the fall," Fletcher said. "It makes me more excited to play, knowing I have a season in my final year. It is definitely unusual circumstances, but I will take it.”
The coronavirus pandemic wiped out all varsity athletics during the spring and severely altered the plans of area athletic administrators this fall. The Patroon Conference and Suburban Council are the only two leagues to compete in boys’ and girls’ soccer this fall.
Football and volleyball already were two sports shifted from the fall to what has been dubbed Fall Season II, which is set to run from March 1 through May 8. The Adirondack League, Central Hudson Valley League and the Wasaren League all decided not to compete in any sports during the fall, pushing all activities back to Fall Season II. The other five area leagues settled on offering varying degrees of sports deemed by the New York State Department of Health as either low-risk or moderate-risk.
The soccer season in the Patroon Conference begins with play Friday and Saturday. The Suburban Council is set to open Saturday.
League by league breakdown: Note: Fall Season II will be conducted from March 1-May 8
Adirondack League
A Playing this fall: Nothing
A Not playing: Boys’ cross country, girls' cross country, field hockey, football, boys' golf, boys' soccer, girls' soccer and girls' volleyball moved to Fall Season II
Central Hudson Valley League
A Playing: Nothing
A Not playing: Boys' soccer, girls' soccer and girls' volleyball moved to Fall Season II
Colonial Council
A Playing: Boys’ golf, girls’ golf, girls' tennis
A Not playing: Boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country, football, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, girls’ swimming and girls’ volleyball moved to Fall Season II
Foothills Council
Playing: Boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country, boys’ golf, girls’ golf, girls’ tennis
A Not playing: Field hockey, football, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer and girls’ volleyball moved to Fall Season II
Patroon Conference
Playing: Boys’ cross country, girls' cross country, boys' soccer, girls' soccer, girls' tennis
A Not playing: Football and girls’ volleyball moved to Fall Season II
Suburban Council
A Playing: Boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country, field hockey (except Ballston Spa and Bethlehem), boys’ soccer (except Ballston Spa and Bethlehem), girls’ soccer (except Ballston Spa and Bethlehem), girls’ swimming, girls’ tennis
A Not playing: Field hockey (Ballston Spa and Bethlehem only), football, boys' soccer (Ballston Spa and Bethlehem only), girls’ soccer (Ballston Spa and Bethlehem only), boys’ volleyball and girls’ volleyball moved to Fall Season II
Wasaren League
A Playing: Nothing
A Not playing: Boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country, field hockey, football, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer and girls’ volleyball to Fall Season II
Western Athletic Conference
Playing: Boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country, boys’ golf, girls’ golf, girls’ tennis
A Not playing: Football, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer and girls’ volleyball moved to Fall Season II