The Rochester City School District announced Wednesday that all of its high school fall sports teams will remain on the sidelines, due to the challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

“After careful consideration, the Rochester City School District decided that since we are in a fully remote learning environment, it would not be in the best interest of our students to participate in low- and moderate-risk fall sports at this time,” city school district superintendent Lesli Myers-Small and East High superintendent Shaun Nelms said in a letter that emphasized ensuring the safety of students and staff.

All of the city school district high schools with sports teams are members of Section V, an organization which is a part of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. The NYSPHSAA announced earlier this month that football, volleyball and competitive cheer, fall sports labeled high-risk when it comes to the possible spread of coronavirus, were postponed until March. 

The city school district now has decided to move the seasons for its cross country, soccer, girls tennis, girls swimming and diving and Unified bowling teams to the same month in 2021.

“It was not an easy decision, it was a really difficult decision for Dr. Myers-Small and I to come to,” Nelms said. “From a personal standpoint, my own daughter is a volleyball player, I knew the impact on her because she is a senior.

“As a parent, it hit home. Also as an educator, I understood the complexity of this matter.”

Schools in the NYSPHSAA and Section V were given the green light to begin high school fall seasons Sept. 21, with the exceptions of football, cheerleading and volleyball. The Monroe County league, which consists of schools in the suburbs of Rochester, decided to push back the start of sports cleared to play until Sept. 29. 

“The most challenging thing for me and for our kids is the unknown, to keep having people ask what’s going to happen to sports,” East High athletic director Eric Robinson said. “It’s an important part of our kids’ lives and our school cultures.

“At the same time, I understand why the decision was made. Until we get more clarity of safety measures, it did make sense to make the move right now. I do think a lot of people are going to be confused.” 

The letter from the city school district did not address whether teams would be able to workout or practice under the supervision of coaches. Criticism of the city school district’s decision is almost certain, in part because other districts plan to play this fall.

“We really need to engage our kids in something over the next 10 weeks or so, we have to be able to do something for our kids,” Robinson said. “Right now, they are sitting inside for multiple hours. Our attendance is 90 percent, and the kids are engaged in their schoolwork.

“They are doing what they need to do in their commitment to go school, so to speak. So we have to do our part and make sure we take care of some of the emotional supports they need.”

Athletic directors and coaches around the United States said the necessary closing of schools in March due to the spread of COVID-19, nevertheless had a depressing effect on high school student-athletes. That episode is a factor for why some school districts will attempt to offer sports this fall, even with the challenges that come with a mound of safety guidelines.

“Right now, we have to err on the side of safety,” Nelms said. “These decisions are always tough. It’s not going to make everyone happy.

“We’re just asking that parents try to understand, like I had to understand for my daughter’s situation, that educators are doing the best they can, based on what they know.”

JAMESJ@Gannett.com