California Postpones High School Sports Until December

All California high school sports will likely play condensed schedules between December and the end of the 2020-21 school year.

The California Interscholastic Federation announced Monday that the start date for sports will be December 2020 or January 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are continuously monitoring the directives and guidelines released from the Governor's Office, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health, and local county health departments and agencies as these directives and guidelines are followed by our member schools/school districts with student health and safety at the forefront,” the CIF release reads. “As these guidelines change, CIF Sections may allow for athletic activity to potentially resume under the summer period rules of the local Section.”

The schedules likely won’t be universal, as each of the 10 CIF section offices will release their own calendar to best fit the situation in that region. The Los Angeles Times reported that the City Section and Southern Section will begin football practice Dec. 14, with games starting Jan. 8.

“This is the best possible plan we have with what’s going on to give students an opportunity to participate,” Los Angeles City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos said, according to the Los Angeles Times. “There are going to be issues in terms of facilities and multiple-sport athletes, but this is the best scenario for the most people. I have confidence the schools and coaches will work it out among themselves. My take from coaches is they want the opportunity to participate and be with the kids.”

The Northern Section, based in Chico, is planning to allow schools to play this fall if local health officials approve.

In most of California, the CIF calendar shows that traditional fall sports will hold their state championships in late March or mid-April. All regional and state championship events have been reduced to one week. The CIF doesn’t hold state championships for field hockey, gymnastics, skiing and snowboarding, while championships for volleyball and water polo are scheduled to end March 20, cross country March 27, and competitive cheer and football April 17.

The spring seasons will stay in a traditional timeframe, starting with badminton championships May 29; soccer, swimming and diving, and tennis June 5; wrestling June 12; basketball June 19; golf June 23; and baseball, softball, and track and field June 26.

California is among a number of states to recently make decisions on prep sports during the pandemic. Syracuse.com reported last week that the New York State Public High School Association has postponed fall sports until Sept. 21 and canceled fall regional and state championships, while keeping open the option to move fall sports to January if the coronavirus doesn’t allow for events this fall.

Related content: Virginia Won’t Play Prep Football Until at Least February