File Photo The Southwestern Trojans, led by head coach Jake Burkholder, won the 2019 Class C Far West Regional in New York before losing in the state semifinals.

During the summer months, Southwestern Central School Superintendent Maureen Donahue likes to walk the Hunt Road campus in West Ellicott because that’s where she typically has a chance to greet student-athletes as they condition for their fall seasons.

Unfortunately, she hasn’t been able to do that because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That’s just beyond breaking my heart where we’re at with this,” she said Thursday afternoon. “That connection for kids is so vital to everyone.”

The news delivered Thursday by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association didn’t necessarily make her feel much better.

The officers of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association voted yesterday to delay the official start date for fall 2020 sports season, cancel the regional and state championships and prepare to implement a condensed season schedule in January 2021, if high school sports remain prohibited throughout the remainder of this calendar year due to COVID-19.

The decision, which delays the fall sports start date until Monday, Sept. 21, comes at the recommendation of the NYSPHSAA COVID-19 Task Force after they convened as a working group for the third time.

“As the state considers reopening, it is unrealistic to believe athletic seasons can start on Aug. 24 as originally scheduled,” Paul Harrica, NYSPHSAA president, said in the press release. “The priority will continue to be on the educational process and a return to learning in the safest way possible.”

The NYSPHSAA officers’ decision also includes:

¯ Waiving the seven-day practice rule.

¯ Maintaining current practice requirements.

¯ Encouraging geographic scheduling for games and contests.

¯ Giving schools the option, if permitted by state officials, to offer offseason conditioning workouts.

“We recognize this is challenging for everyone, but the decisions made at the state level are based upon data and statewide infection rates all in an effort to stop the spread of COVID and reopen responsibly,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA executive director. “At this time, Department of Health guidance presented on July 13 prohibits interscholastic athletics across the state. The association will continue to follow state guidance and will work collectively with state officials to ensure high school athletics will start up responsibly in the future. As an association, we must be willing to be flexible and continue to explore all options with students safety as our main focus.”

If the fall sports seasons are interrupted by the COVID-19 crisis — for example, state official guidance, school closings, cancellation of high-risk sports — then a condensed seasons plan will be implemented, the release said.

The condensed season plan would entail the following with the stipulated dates being tentative:

¯ SEASON I (WINTER SPORTS)

Dates: Jan. 4-March 13 (10 weeks).

Sports: basketball (boys and girls); bowling (boys and girls); gymnastics; ice hockey (boys and girls), indoor track & field (boys and girls); skiing (boys and girls); and swimming (boys). Because of their high-risk nature, wrestling and competitive cheer may have to be moved to Season II or Season III.

¯ SEASON II (FALL SPORTS)

Dates: March 1-May 8 (10 weeks)

Sports: football, cross country (boys and girls), field hockey, soccer (boys and girls), swimming (girls), volleyball (boys and girls), unified bowling.

Weather will have an impact upon outdoor sports in some parts of the state in March and, potentially, April. Girls tennis will be moved to Season III.

¯ SEASON III (SPRING SPORTS)

Dates: April 5-June 12 (10 weeks)

Sports: baseball, softball, golf (boys and girls); lacrosse (boys and girls); tennis (boys and girls); outdoor track & field (boys and girls; and unified basketball.

Jamestown High School athletic director Ben Drake said the announcement left him “disappointed, but it was not unexpected.”

“I think we got that feeling the last couple weeks that having a fall sports season, while trying to be optimistic, there was a decent chance that we might not have (one),” he said.

Drake, who also coaches Jamestown’s varsity boys basketball team, said the uncertainty of whether sports can be played makes it difficult to put together a schedule.

“Do you do your fall schedule with plans on practice starting Sept. 21 and games starting in early October?” he said. “It’s quite a process with all the different sports coming up with all those dates. Then, to have the carpet pulled out from under you again in another month and having to do it again with games in the spring? There are so many factors that go into this. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association is in a tough spot because they’re opening under the direction they’re getting from the Governor’s Office.”

Donahue said it’s important to give students “some kind of schedule and positive alternatives right now.”

“Everybody talks about the social and emotional piece for the kids,” she said, “and athletics gives our kids a very positive outlet. We have probably over 75 percent of our kids involved in music, arts or athletic programs, and those have been the hardest hit. … I’ll just be glad when we can get back to normal.”