The New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) approved high risk sports to begin starting Feb. 1. 

Schools across New York are now initiating sports programs for athletes following a long off-season due to the pandemic. The sports approved by the Department of Health include basketball, cheerleading, football, hockey, volleyball and lacrosse.

Volleyball is set to start March 1 in Section V as McQuaid Jesuit looks to repeat their success from the 2019 season. 

McQuaid has already begun scheduled workouts to prepare players for the shortened season. These workouts follow COVID-19 Protocols and help give athletes motivation to finish out the extra laborious school year.

The regular season will conclude on April 23, 2021, as all sectional games must be completed by May 2. In order to give more regular season time for sports, state championships were cancelled, preventing McQuaid Volleyball from striving to repeat as state champions. 

“I don’t see the logic behind it,” says Robert Evangelista, ‘23, an outside hitter on McQuaid varsity volleyball.

Athletes at McQuaid and schools around New York have been training since the abruptly ended season last March, so the championship cancellation is not agreed upon.

Students across New York State begin to aim their focus on balancing academics and athletics as multi-sport athletes face extreme pressure within the following months.

High-risk spring sports, such as baseball, softball, boys golf, boys tennis, boys and girls Lacrosse and Track & Field will begin April 19, 2021. These sports seasons overlap in order to allow time for both, but the stress put on students could surge.