Low-risk sports to return Sept. 21

On Monday, Aug. 24, Gov. Andrew Cuomo released guidance for interscholastic athletics in the state, allowing for competition in low-risk sports to begin Sept. 21. For the fall, low-risk sports include soccer, tennis, swimming, cross-country and field hockey. Higher-risk sports, including football and volleyball, will be able to practice, but no games will be held for the foreseeable future.

After the colleges in the area suspended athletics for the remainder of 2020 (aside from Tompkins Cortland Community College’s cross-country team), this news is a breath of fresh air as we progress toward a return to normalcy.

Aside from field hockey, which no Tompkins County schools participate in, there have been successful low-risk sports teams in the area in recent years. Perhaps most notably is the Lansing boys soccer team, which has reached the state finals in each of the past three years, winning twice. There will be no chance for a fourth-straight appearance this year, considering the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) already canceled the fall state championships.

Either way, Lansing boys soccer coach Benji Parkes was expectedly very happy to hear the news on Monday.

“Being a high school teacher and being without kids the last six months, it’s been difficult, and I can only imagine what it’s like for all the student athletes as well,” Parkes said. “To think that we might be able to squeeze in a season here starting Sept. 21, those are the words I was hoping to hear. So, we’re excited.”

After the outcome of the spring sports season earlier this year and the wavering response to COVID-19 across the nation, it was understandably hard to imagine getting to the point where we’d be able to hold high school sports again in New York. Parkes shared what has been going through his mind in recent months.

“I was always hoping there would be a season,” Parkes said. “But if I was really being honest, I had small hope that we’d actually fit in a season. Just with all the collegiate and professional landscape around sports, I just didn’t know if the high schools would take a risk in putting something together. But I think they came up with a good game plan, and I think we should be providing the opportunity, and that’s what the kids and the coaches are asking.”

It has been a while since Parkes has been able to work with his team. This made the indefinite break that much tougher for him.

“Back in March, we got shut down and had no idea how long we would be without soccer or without any sports,” Parkes said. “The planning really sat still. As a coaching staff, we weren’t allowed to work with any athletes over the summer. From that point of view, I left it in their hands to prepare themselves for hopefully the season.”

It’s still unclear what school will look like this year, but Parkes is hoping to get that daily interaction with his players again. He stated that the connection is what he’s missed the most during the pandemic.

“Being a teacher, it’s really easy when we’re in school,” Parkes said. “You see them on a daily basis. They’re always jumping into my office, say hello, eat lunch, talk soccer, talk football, talk baseball, talk basketball, whatever’s on their mind. Having to do it all over Zoom makes it a little more challenging. I would say that’s the one thing that I miss is the interaction and the communication with the players and students on a daily basis.”

As mentioned earlier, Lansing has had unprecedented success on the pitch in recent years. While a state championship is not in the cards this year, what matters most is that the team will actually get to play.

“[Not competing for a state title] is difficult to swallow,” Parkes said. “But at the same time, I think if you look at the bigger perspective and realize that getting in a season would be great, we’ll take that. I don’t think our goals change as a program. As far as I’ve heard, we’re still going to have a sectional championship. If we can still stick to our goals and try to reach a sectional championship, I think we’d have a successful season.”

The next order of business for the state is to decide when teams can start practicing. If the season starts Sept. 21, players will need time to get back into game shape.

“My guess is it’ll be about probably about a week and a half of practice,” Parkes said. “I’m sure New York state will want to still get in those six practices, seven practices as a team. Then, I’m guessing we’ll probably play three games a week for as long as we can. I’m just looking forward to getting back out there. I’m sure the guys are as well.”

Schools will be restricted to only playing teams in their regions for the upcoming season, but that’s more than enough for a lot of athletes after months on the shelf. The Lansing boys soccer team is just one of many local teams ready to kick back into gear come September.