New York issued guidance last week regarding sports and recreation as the state continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The
guidance splits the sports into separate categories depending on their risk of spreading the virus (low, moderate, high risk).
The guidance is effective immediately for the low-risk outdoor activities which include:
- Individual running
- Batting cages
- Hunting/Shooting/Archery
- Golf/Mini-golf
- Non-motorized boating
- Singles tennis
- Rock climbing
- Individual swimming
- Individual crew
- Cross country running
- Toss/bowl games (e.g. horseshoes, bocce, bean bag toss)
- Flying disc games (e.g. disc golf, frisbee)
- Ropes courses
Ari Wind, of Plainview Little League, on precautions put in place
Guidance for moderate and higher risk activities go into effect on July 6 in regions that have reached or surpassed Phase 3 reopenings.
Moderate-risk activities:
- Baseball/ Softball
- Doubles tennis
- Racket games (e.g. badminton, racquetball)
- Water polo
- Gymnastics
- Field hockey
- Swimming relays
- Crew (2+ rowers)
- Rafting
- Paintball
- Soccer
- Non-contact lacrosse
Ari Wind on letting kids play again
- Individual or distanced group training or activities
- Organized no/low-contact group training
- Competitive team practices
- Games, meets, matches and scrimmages.
There are no multigame-day tournaments allowed under the guidance.
Higher-risk sports will only allow individual or distance group training or activities and organized no/low contact group training.
High-risk activities:
- Football
- Wrestling
- Ice hockey
- Rugby
- Basketball
- Contact lacrosse
- Volleyball
- Competitive cheer/dance
According to the guidelines, the rules apply to non-professional and non-collegiate sports and activities conducted at gyms and fitness centers.