Expanded sports menu welcomed by area schools
Local reaction to the state Department of Public Health’s announcement Friday morning that high school football and other outdoor sports will be allowed to resume play across many parts of California for the first time in nearly 12 months was one of relief and positivity.
“We’ve been hearing it for the past couple weeks, many of the Let Them Play California groups and the State CIF were talking with the governor and we knew something was coming,” said Brawley High athletic director Billy Brewer. “The bottom line is we are here to afford kids as many opportunities to play as possible from here to the end of the school year.”
For the CIF-San Diego Section, which has seen cross country begin the season with swimming scheduled to start competing this week, the possible addition of more outdoor sports was welcomed news.
“We are very excited to see a pathway for additional sports to hopefully be able to return to play in the next few weeks,” said CIF-SDS assistant commissioner Todd Cassen. “Especially for the sports that were beginning to run out of time for their season to take place.”
According to published statistics, 27 California counties are eligible to begin practicing in outdoor sports Friday as they have a per-capita rate of fewer than 14 new COVID-19 cases daily per 100,000 residents.
Those 27 counties include Imperial while most of Southern California still fell short of the requirements.
One big caveat to Friday’s announcement is that county health departments could still impose stricter rules than the state’s, making local school administrators tread forward with caution.
“We are excited to offer new opportunities for student athletes when we meet the health criteria now established by Public Health,” said Brawley Union High School District superintendent and CIF-SDS Board of Managers Vice Chairman Simon Canalez. “The Imperial County superintendents will work with the Southeastern Conference and determine the appropriate next steps, with facilities, officials, spectators and transportation being key issues.”
Also, while high school football and other outdoor sports will be allowed to resume play under Friday’s announcement, indoor sports, without compelling evidence they can be played safely, were left untouched by state health department.
“I definitely believe there is still a chance for our indoor sports to follow a similar path as what we just witnessed for our outdoor sports that weren’t in a very good position just a few days ago,” Cassen said. “I know our state executive director of CIF is working to address inequalities for our indoor sports found in the state’s guidance for youth sports.”
For Valley football coaches, Friday’s announcement ended months of wondering how California was one of 15 states to delay its football season until 2021 and how California was one of just five states to have not scheduled a start at all.
“We felt confident it could be done in a safe manner,” said Central High football coach David Peña. “I’ve talked with my friends who are coaches from different parts of the country that have played their seasons, and they proved it can be done.”
The announcement was crucial for football teams, which CIF officials ruled must play games by April 17 for next year’s season to start on time, enough time to fit in at least five games.
“When I heard, I said it’s time to get to work. … We have had a plan, and now it’s a matter of getting through everything,” Peña said. “And at this point, we’re grateful for whatever we get and to get back on the field and get some sense of normalcy.”
Higher-contact outdoor sports like football that have been approved to play must also adhere to new guidelines, namely a weekly testing regimen.
“To be honest, most of our coaching staff has been getting tested, so it’s nothing new,” Peña said. “And for the kids, at this point it will be a small sacrifice and there is practicality to what they are thinking.”
Other outdoor sports defined as moderate contact, such as baseball and softball, will not be subject to the testing requirement, but it was recommended for all athletes.
“I think it can be done safely if you follow the rules. There is a way to do it right,” said veteran Southwest High softball coach Stephanie Niebla, whose Eagles’ 2020 season was stopped last March.
Niebla is optimistic her team will get to play some semblance of a season starting when practice can officially begin. “We get to start March 13, and if we are in the red tier we can play or we will have to wait until we are,” Niebla said. “We had actually shut everything down, but yesterday I had a Zoom meeting for players and over 50 girls attended. They were excited to start.”
Niebla’s daughter Jaelyn was set to play volleyball and softball, but has since joined Southwest’s golf team in lieu of volleyball to compete as best she can in her senior year.
“When we saw softball was in the red tier, we had hope for it, and she started to play golf, and it’s changed her attitude so much,” Niebla said.
“It’s satisfying as a parent to see Jaelyn excited, and I’m going to encourage all my players to play another sport as well as softball if given the chance.” Whether players can compete in multiple sports in the same season, except football which is not prohibited, is among the questions that will be addressed at a CIFSDS Southeastern Conference meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
While the ramifications of Friday’s announcement continue to be explored and defined, Brewer suggested that potential student-athletes become proactive.
“Where I would go is to my school’s website to download the participation packet and consent form that all schools have up,” Brewer said. “After the meeting Tuesday, I’m sure information regarding which sports and levels of competition will be posted by each school.”