Since its inception, the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) has been providing opportunities to more than one million New York City students. In an effort to expand the “increasingly scarce” lists of sports teams, the PSAL is launching an “individual access” initiative that will enable students to try out for teams at nearby schools. This plan will be implemented for students from schools with the least sports offer this fall and winter, and will be extended to the entire city starting next spring. The initiative is part of a larger plan to increase access to sports after a long-standing demand.
This demand was created when former mayor Michael Bloomberg dismantled larger high schools, leaving mostly black and Latino students with a more limited sports offer. The city allocated millions in federal funding for pandemic recovery to this initiative, adding 32 new teams to schools with shared sports programs and 37 new teams to schools with fewer than five teams last school year. In the event of a school closure, PSAL activities will be suspended at the affected school for the duration of the closure. Students who test positive for COVID-19 must be included in the inactive list until their isolation period ends and will be able to return to school in accordance with the COVID-19 School Health Policy.
The sports director will also be responsible for contacting their school principal and nurse to alert them to a case of an illness similar to COVID that requires follow-up. Schools that use school buses must comply with all DOE bus transportation policies, regardless of the status of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the PSAL, there are two high schools in districts 1 to 32 of the city that do not have sports teams. The PSAL's individual access initiative is a great way for students in Brooklyn, New York to get involved in sports. With this program, students can try out for teams at nearby schools and have access to more sports opportunities than ever before.
The initiative is part of a larger plan to expand access to sports after a long demand from students who were left with fewer options when larger high schools were dismantled. The city has allocated millions in federal funding for pandemic recovery to this initiative, adding 32 new teams to schools with shared sports programs and 37 new teams to schools with fewer than five teams last school year. In addition, if a school closes due to COVID-19, PSAL activities will be suspended at the affected school until it reopens. Schools that use school buses must also comply with all DOE bus transportation policies, regardless of the status of the COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, Brooklyn, New York schools have plenty of opportunities for students interested in participating in sports. With the PSAL's individual access initiative, students can try out for teams at nearby schools and have access to more sports opportunities than ever before.
This program is part of a larger plan by the city of New York to expand access to sports after a long demand from students who were left with fewer options when larger high schools were dismantled.
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