For the first time since March 12, the familiar thud of cleats on soccer balls and the crack of field hockey sticks returned to high schools across the Lower Hudson Valley on Tuesday.

Several Section 1 fall sports returned to action, finally ending a hiatus of more than six months prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It marked the first day of practice for soccer, field hockey, cross country and tennis, which initially had their seasons delayed by more than a month as school districts focused on a safe return to school.

Coaches and athletic director flooded social media Tuesday afternoon with joy despite gray skies and rain.

“Finally!” tweeted Ardsley athletic director Mike Ramponi.

The four sports that began workouts were all designated low or moderate-risk by the state Department of Health and were green-lighted last month by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The “high-risk” sports of football, volleyball and competitive cheer were not and have since been postponed by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association until March 1.

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The majority of schools in Section 1 — which is formed by public schools in Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and lower Dutchess counties — resumed play with new safety restrictions in place. Athletes are being asked to wear masks and practice social distancing, among other changes.

There were a few notable absences from competition. Earlier this month, the Yonkers and Pawling districts opted to postpone all fall sports until March. Several other Dutchess County schools, including Arlington, John Jay-East Fishkill and Ketcham, will begin their seasons later this week.

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: Section 1 restart raises questions despite high optimism

Somers High School also delayed the start of practice until Wednesday after two schools in the district were temporarily closed due to positive COVID-19 tests. Athletic director Roman Catalino echoed the reason given by the district for the high school remaining closed, saying it was a staffing issue.

Catalino said the teams will practice on five separate fields and split into the same cohorts Somers uses in its hybrid learning model. He hopes to combine the cohorts for regular team practices next week.

He said administrators at different schools have shared ideas for a safe return to the playing field.

“Everybody is trying to talk to one another to see what’s working and what’s not,” Catalino said.

SOMERS: Schools closed due to positive COVID tests, staffing issues

FOX LANE: Several high school students forced into remote learning after weekend gatherings

Fox Lane High School was scheduled to hold practices. That was despite several students being forced by the district into two weeks of remote-only learning after they attended large gatherings over the weekend.

Tuesday marked the first workouts since the winter state tournaments were halted on March 12. In an unprecedented move, the NYSPHSAA canceled the entire spring season.

High school programs were also not allowed to resume offseason workouts this summer despite youth sports being allowed to resume in July. The fall high school sports season had originally been slated to begin Aug. 24, but was delayed four weeks by Cuomo.

Several sections upstate began workouts Sept. 21, but Section 1 opted to delay an additional week. Sections 8 and 11 (Long Island) opted to postpone all sports until 2021 and neighboring Section 9 (upper Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties) delayed fall sports until late winter.

Josh Thomson is the Local Sports Editor for The Journal News and Poughkeepsie Journal. He can be reached by email at jthomson@lohud.com, on Twitter at @lohudinsider, and on Instagram at @lohudinsider.

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