Newburgh Free Academy will have high-risk sports in the winter.

The Newburgh Enlarged City School District announced on Sunday that it will run varsity basketball, cheerleading and wrestling for the winter season, for a one-month season.

The district also announced there will be a live town hall event at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday to provide information to families and athletes regarding the season and the revised policies surrounding eligibility and participation.

The state approval, given on Jan. 22, also authorizes football, volleyball, and boys’ lacrosse to practice and play as well.
“Many people have contacted my office in support of playing sports,” Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said. “It is important that this be approached as a region, but that families make their own educated decisions based on their student athlete and other household members.”

The state also kicked the decision to the county Health Departments.

The Orange County Health Dept. required a school board resolution or a written consent of the Superintendent to detail which sports and grades are permitted to play, medical clearance for student athletes, written consent from parents and the district must retain the original Code of Conduct.

High-risk sports may be suspended if the local 7-day percent positivity rolling average exceeds the state average.
High-risk sports will begin offseason style workouts and there will be sharing of equipment and no full contact until all the requirements are met.

The Section 9 Athletic Council launched into action immediately, holding an emergency meeting on Jan. 25, in which Executive Director Greg Ransom was authorized to write letters asking for approval from Orange, Sullivan, Ulster and Dutchess counties.

The council also announced that it scheduled the winter high-risk season from Feb. 1 until Feb. 28. Low- and moderate risk sports were authorized to start on Jan. 4 in the MHAL and Jan. 19 in the OCIAA.

According to reports, Section 9 has no plans to expand the winter season beyond Feb. 28.

Newburgh will open the subsequent seasons to all levels.

The Fall 2 season will begin practice on March 1 and is scheduled to end on April 18 with all sports authorized.

The district opened registration for Fall 2 sports – boys’ and girls’ soccer, boys’ and girls cross-country, football, volleyball, girls swimming, girls’ tennis, and cheerleading. Offseason workouts for the Fall 2 will begin on Monday.

Practice for the spring season is scheduled to begin on April 19 until an undetermined ending date, which depends on Regents exams and state playoff dates. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has canceled state championships for the fall and winter seasons, but as of Jan. 22, Executive Director Robert Zayas said spring championships are still on.