BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

The much-debated high-risk sports season kicks off tonight in St. Lawrence County, with a variety of safety measures and a fluid and flexible schedule in place.

Section X Director Carl Normandin said the districts have been divided into cohorts to minimize exposure.

“We developed “cohorts” (that) are based on geography and potential travel time of 40 minutes or less. This is in an effort to reduce potential transmission to the bus drivers and players/coaches based on being in a confined area with poor ventilation. However, these cohorts will be subject to change based on schools going remote and temporary shutdowns etc,” he said in an emailed response to questions.

Normadin said 23 of 24 Section X schools are participating in basketball in St. Lawrence, Lewis and Franklin counties.

“Each county has its own health mandates and guidelines along with several schools that have established more restrictions so cohorts (will) be different, Boys Hockey has 9 schools in 2 counties so cohorts will be setup again to reduce travel to the greatest extent possible and exposure based on each counties' directives as well,” he said. “Girls hockey has 5 schools in 2 counties, so their events and cohorts are extremely limited this season.”

Normadin said travel, testing, and district restriction are creating some unique matchups this season. But the goal was to provide safe opportunities.

“Schedules will be done on a week-by-week basis in an effort to ensure those teams that are eligible and can play will be matched up based on the travel, testing and potential competitiveness.”

Normadin said teams have travel time restrictions in place.

“The time restrictions have been designed based on limiting the time of potential exposure for the protection of students, bus drivers, event personnel sport officials etc,” he said.

“There are many other safety measures in place based on each school's safety plan, which adhere to public health guidelines. Social distancing when possible, masking, etc will all hopefully help reduce potential spread. Additional safety measures such as sending JV and varsity teams on separate busses will also be in place.”

Typically schools play each other based on school size, but this year these classifications are being dismissed in order to allow the season to move forward.

“The schedule is fluid each week based on the current health situation of our districts, but overall it is based on geographical location and availability of teams,” he said.

Normadin said schools that are doing volunteer testing will decide if they play teams that are not testing.

“Yes, that is a possibility but not a mandate for scheduling. This depends on each districts' approved safety plan,” he said.

The season will be a short one and no post season will be held.