It’s Never Too Early to Plan for the Finals

It’s time to circle your deed books for the Section 1 fall championships.

Too early?

Not if you’re a coach or a player who uses these as a target date or a goal. It might just be for planning purposes, but there’s a greater achievement in mind. For many, it’s like a final journey after weeks and months of hard work. It’s a light and a prize at the end of a long, dark tunnel. It’s the so-called carrot at the end of a stick.

So let the wishing and planning begin!

FOOTBALL – Nov. 13 and 14 at North Rockland High School.

This is the most noteworthy change to the playoff schedule. After decades of using Mahopac H.S. for the finals, the Section 1 Executive Committee voted to move the championships to North Rockland H.S. Many are likening this to the ill-fated move several years ago to move basketball out of the Westchester County Center in White Plains. The backlash forced the powers-that-be to rethink that idea.

BOYS’ SOCCER – Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 at Mahopac H.S. Mahopac has a turf field and is more centrally located.

GIRLS’ SOCCCER – Oct. 31 to Nov. 1 at Arlington H.S. Arlington has a beautiful complex, but some consider it too far a drive from Westchester and Rockland County.

BOYS’ & GIRLS’ CROSS COUNTRY – Nov. 7. At press time, a site had not yet been chosen for this event. Traditionally, it has been hosted at Bowdoin Park in Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County.

FIELD HOCKEY – Nov. 1 at Nyack H.S.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL – Nov. 2 at Westchester County Center.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL – Nov. 7 and 8 at Westchester County Center.

GIRLS’ TENNIS – Oct. 10 to 14 and Oct. 17 to 23 at Harrison H.S. The former date is for individual championships and the latter is for team titles.

GIRLS’ SWIM – Nov. 9 and 10 at Felix Festa Middle School in West Nyack.

GIRLS’ DIVING – Nov. 6 at Purchase College.

CHEERLEADING – Nov. 1 at Port Chester H.S.