Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, athletes across the globe have all been affected immensely. Whether you are a collegiate Division 1 athlete or a high schooler who wants to play their final season, times have been stressful.

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) released a statement on October 29 stating, “While we’ve announced a basic framework for season 2 – this year’s designation for our traditional winter season – planning remains preliminary and subject to change, particularly given current health information. No formal decisions have been made about post-season play, including individual wrestling contests. Certainly, we welcome input from our various sports committees and active volunteers, but it’s important to keep in mind that nothing is final until NJSIAA makes a formal announcement.”

According to North Jersey.com, it looks like the preliminary plan for winter athletes in New Jersey will be the following:

-Ice hockey (practice begins December 14, competition begins January 4, and competition ends February 17).
-Basketball, fencing, and bowling (practice begins January 11, competition begins January 26, and competition ends March 6).
-Swimming and winter track & field (practice begins February 1 competition begins February 16, and competition ends March 27).
-Gymnastics, girls volleyball, and wrestling (practice begins March 1, competition begins March 16, and competition ends April 24).

It is unaware what the association’s plan is for spring athletes. Spring athletes have been affected the most as they had their entire season canceled last year and run the risk of a second full cancellation.

The number one priority right now is to make sure everyone is safe and healthy.

Julia Marotti’21 Co-Executive Editor-in-Chief