The Marysville (Calif.) High School varsity volleyball team was scheduled to play Western Sierra Collegiate Academy of Rocklin on Thursday, but the game was canceled over disagreements about mask-wearing, resulting in the latter team refusing to play and walking out.
As reported by FOX affiliate KTXL in Sacramento, Marysville athletic director David Chiono said the Western Collegiate Academy coach was under the impression that everyone inside a gym during a game needed to wear a face covering based on California Department of Public Health guidance. The latest guidance from CDPH earlier this month states masks are required for all people watching or playing indoor sorts, unless wearing a mask during play has been determined to pose a choking hazard, then COVID-19 testing should be done at least once a week.
Chiono told KTXL there was a misunderstanding when the mask mandate for indoor sports went into effect, and the opposing team’s coach was absolutely within his right to pull his players from what he felt was a dangerous situation.
“There wasn’t a planned protest or to show they weren’t going to mask,” John Nicoletti, a resident who lives near the school, told KTXL. “People who chose to be vaccinated didn’t wear a mask because they are vaccinated. Kind of thought this was normal, but it wasn’t normal.
“It’s unfortunate this was a disruption, but blame it on COVID-19 — No one likes COVID.”
The two schools are rescheduled to play again on Oct. 4 in Rocklin
