TAYLOR MADE: THE PASSING OF A LEGEND & ANOTHER FALL SPORTS UPDATE (2020-08-26)
Owego assistant basketball coach Charlie Sibley has passed away.
"Sib," as he's known by many, dedicated 50 years of his life to helping young people from around the area learn the game of basketball and his positive influence reached thousands of young athletes.
I hung out at the Tioga County Boys and Girls Club a few times when I was younger and had seen Charlie there, but never really interacted with him. Therefore, I can't tell you from personal experience about the positive impact he had on kids who frequented the club, but in the past couple days have heard from a few parents who talked about the influence he had on their children.
Charlie went on to become a boys basketball assistant coach under Chris Evans and, for a few seasons, Brian Hathaway. This past season, he could also be sitting on the sidelines with coach Luke McEvoy and the girls team as well. He was also involved with the OA Tribe Basketball Club, and coached some youth football and boxing at the boys and girls club..
An Owego Class of 1970 grad, he earned a degree from Broome Tech (now SUNY Broome Community College) and spent 32 years in the manufacturing industry.
Appropriately so, Sib was named BCANY Assistant Coach of the Year for Section IV this year.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, 4-7 p.m., at Estey, Munroe & Fahey Funeral Home, 15 Park Street, Owego.
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FALL SPORTS
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that "low" and "moderate" risk sports could return to play beginning Sept. 21. The sports include cross country, golf, field hockey, soccer, swimming and tennis among them. However, teams will not be permitted to travel outside their region or a neighboring region to play or practice until Oct. 19.
The "high risk" sports — football and volleyball — can resume non-competitive, non-contact practice Sept. 21, but won't be allowed to return to competitive play at this time. It's looking more and more likely that the high risk sports, as well as basketball, ice hockey and wrestling, will not start until 2021, unless Cuomo decides otherwise.
Following the governor's announcement, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association held two meetings Wednesday in preparation for the fall season.
Executive directors from the 11 sections, officers and NYSPHSAA staff met Tuesday morning and the NYSPHSAA COVID-19 Task Force met that afternoon. Both meetings were held to examine and discuss the start of the fall sports seasons and analyze guidance from state officials, according to news release on the NYSPHSAA website.
NYSPHSAA staff, section executive directors and the COVID-19 Task Force are expected to meet again prior to the end of the week to continue discussions.
The New York State Council of School Superintendents has requested the governor delay the start of all sports until 2021. NYSCOSS sent a letter stating, "We are sympathetic to the students and families that have been hoping and preparing for school athletics this fall. We are not currently calling for cancelling all athletics for the school year. We would request a delay in school athletics until January 1. As we approach the new year, we should collaborate with all stakeholders to develop and agree on a plan to consolidate all three athletic seasons into the 2nd semester so that student athletes have an equitable opportunity to participate in the sport of their choice."
Nassau County (Section VIII) on Long Island announced this afternoon that it will postpone all sports until 2021. The other Long Island county, Suffolk County (Section XI) also met, but no word about that meeting has been announced.
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IN PHOTO 2: Charlie Sibley. ... TCSR FILE PHOTO.
