With the outbreak of COVID-19, schools all around Bergen County have significantly changed over the past months. Sports in particular have been modified immensely with the new safety protocols implemented by Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Typically for most teams, practices and tryouts would have started as early as August. However this year, practices and tryouts started on September 14th, and game schedules have been adjusted for each respective sport. Changes to the fall sport schedule include:

• Football-  First game October 2nd, season ends November 21
• Volleyball- Season postponed until February 16th, games start March 3, and postseason April 15-24
• Boys & Girls Soccer– First game October 1, season ends mid November
• Girls Tennis- First match September 28, season ends November 1
• Boys & Girls Cross Country- First meet October 3
• Field Hockey- First game October 3, season ends November 10

Athletic director Thomas Kaechele said that each sport will be playing their division opponents twice throughout the season (one home and one away). Sports will play against towns like Demarest, Tenafly, Pascack Valley, Bergenfield, and Teaneck. 

In addition to these changes for each sport, some overall guidelines have been placed for all student athletes participating in fall sports. According to Kaechele, athletes are unable to access locker rooms, and are required to wear masks at all times, with the exception of activities that may limit breathing. Other safety guidelines from the NJSIAA limit the spectator and audience numbers to only two family tickets for each player. For football games, attendance is also limited to two tickets for the family of each marching band member and cheerleader. 

With new guidelines to be released throughout the coming seasons, the fall sports season kicks off a new year for many student athletes.