With the delay to the high school season, comes the delay to the youth season in its wake.
After a recent decision by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association to delay the start of the fall preseason until at least Sept. 21, the Orange County Youth Football League voted last week to delay the start of its preseason to Sept. 21, as well.
As of press time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has not given the green light for interscholastic sports to resume and a decision on whether schools will open in the fall is expected by Aug. 7.
If interscholastic sports, are not approved by Sept. 21, the state will move to a three-season condensed schedule, beginning Jan. 4, 2022. Even if it hits the Sept. 21 start date, there has been no ruling as to whether tackle football will be allowed.
OCYFL officials said if there is any further delay, the season will most likely be canceled.

“Unfortunately, the only guidelines we have to follow are the high school directions,” OCYFL Vice President Gary Specht said. “The state’s not giving us any directions.”
Under this plan, practices will be allowed to begin on Sept. 21 with scrimmages against one other town allowed on the weekend of Oct. 10 and 11. If there is an odd number of teams in a division, one town will be asked to host a three-team scrimmage.
The regular season will be on the weekends, beginning Oct. 27 and ending Nov. 21, which will be a five-or six-game regular season. If there is an even number of teams in a division, there will be a six-game season with no bye week. If there is an odd number, the season will be five games with a bye week.
The playoffs have been canceled for the 2021 season.
“Our biggest concern is the safety of the kids,” Specht said. “No one wants to put anybody, especially the children, at risk. We’re going to do everything in our power to go. Then, if that’s not possible, we have no choice, but to not play. We don’t want to put anybody in jeopardy, not for a game.”
League officials also didn’t believe it was prudent to have the kids together on the football field before school started. Practice usually begins on Aug. 1, more than a month before school starts.