OCYFL pushes preseason back to August

By Mike Zummo
Posted 7/1/20

 

It happened every year like clockwork.

As soon as the summer calendar flipped from July to August, eyes would start turning toward the second half of summer vacation and the beginning …

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OCYFL pushes preseason back to August

Posted

It happened every year like clockwork.

As soon as the summer calendar flipped from July to August, eyes would start turning toward the second half of summer vacation and the beginning of fall was starting to show up on the horizon.
The new month also was marked by hundreds of youth football players throughout the area strapping on their helmets for their first Orange County Youth Football League practices.

Except this year.

Like everything else since March, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed the start of the OCYFL preseason.

At a June 17 board meeting, OCYFL officials decided to delay the start of preseason until Aug. 24, if it is safe to do so, according to a message sent to families of the town of Newburgh.

The annual scrimmage day will be canceled, and the season is expected to begin the weekend of Sept. 12.
There is expected to be a 7-game schedule and then start the playoffs under the usual format.

Goldback Youth football officials announced that wearing masks will most likely be one of the safety protocols put in place when families are at games.

Registration for most leagues is still open.

Valley Central Youth Football has changed the way its conducting registration for the 2020 season and will therefore be unable to field more than one team at any level so registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The Mid-Hudson region entered Phase 3 on Tuesday, June 23. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that low-risk youth sports can begin in Phase 3, beginning July 6. However, football and cheerleading were not included.
The region is scheduled to enter Phase Four on Tuesday, July 7.