Deal could open up indoor play

Settlement with state would overrule local health orders

A new pathway to indoor sports in California could come through a settlement with the state, the attorney who filed suit over youth sports in San Diego County told a group of Bay Area basketball coaches Monday evening.

Stephen C. Grebing, the managing partner of Wingert Grebing of San Diego, said on a Zoom call with the Bay Area Basketball

Coaches Alliance that he had received a settlement offer from the state “with almost everything we wanted” in response to an equalrights case brought by a pair of football players in San Diego County. Grebing said the settlement would apply statewide and allow all sports to compete under the same reopening tier.

If agreed upon, the settlement would overrule local health orders, Grebing said, which could potentially pave the path to indoor sports in every county in California with an adjusted case rate below 14 per 100,000. Outdoor sports were given the green light at that threshold last month.

On Friday, Grebing also has the final injunction hearing on the case in San Diego, which will determine whether the initial favorable ruling is permanent. Already, all sports have resumed in San Diego County with athletes getting tested beforehand, Grebing said.

Return-to-play advocates have filed similar lawsuits in San Francisco, San Mateo and Contra Costa counties, as well as a number of others around the state. Grebing said the judge in Contra Costa County could view their case favorably. A win outside of San Diego County would “make it legitimate,” Grebing said.

“If I can get it done Friday, then the negotiation’s going to end,” Grebing said. “I don’t think they can take the risk of continuing to lose cases. If we get one win outside of San Diego, I think other counties are going to wake up.”

Frank Knight, the boys’ basketball coach at Moreau Catholic, said he didn’t think there was any chance for a season prior to the first meeting of the basketball coaches last week, which Grebing also attended.

“After hearing (Grebing) talk, I wenttoopenmyofficeupforthe first time in like 340 days,” Knight said. “He makes a very compelling argument.”

Outside of the legal arena, the coaches alliance also hopes to generate similar pressure on Gov. Gavin Newsom as their predecessors did for football and other outdoor sports. They have also partnered with Let Them Play CA, which has helped gather data on coronavirus spread from indoor sports in other states, organizers said. The initial survey results showed favorable data, they said, but did not provide details.

Chris Lavdiotis, who helped form the basketball coaches group and helms the boys’ team at Miramonte High, said he wasn’t initially in favor of bringing back all sports but safely conducted workouts have brought him around.

“I’ve really changed my views on how safe it is to get kids together and play sports,” Lavdiotis said. “At Miramonte, we’ve been bringing kids together with masks, and they’ve been enjoying the hell of it.”

The coaches said they will approach the state about an April 5 start date for basketball, which they said would allow for a 10-week season before the June 12 end date for all sports mandated by CIF.

There are other guidelines to be negotiated, like a mask mandate during play, Lavdiotis said.

“Are we willing to say we’ll play with masks on? We need to be united on this stuff,” Lavdiotis said to the coaches, who numbered close to 50.

There could be other scheduling complications, such as finals testing, spring breaks and last days of school, the coaches said.

Officiating adds another layer of complication.

Dave Cutaia, who assigns officials games in Contra Costa County, said there had been “not one mention” of officials in communications from the CIF. He said many are willing to show up in a mask but had received little direction. There are also “people who are not going to work because of COVID,” he said. One association that typically staffs 200 officials had just 35 signed up, he said.

There’s been talk of cutting basketball teams back to only varsity and one sub-varsity team or having all three levels compete on the same day in the same gym to conserve officials, Cutaia and the coaches said.

“There could be times when games need to be moved because of a lack of officials,” Cutaia said.

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2021

Take charge of your life. Refuse to let anyone undermine you or push you in a direction you don’t like. Focus on what you enjoy doing, and be responsible for your happiness. Be brave, think outside the box and follow your heart. Make romance a priority.

Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20): Push for what you want. Be aware of what’s going on around you, and use whatever is available to realize your pursuits. A change of heart will help you ditch something that is holding you back.

Aries (March 21-April 19): Pay attention to detail. Don’t risk your health and physical well-being. Rely on your intelligence, not your emotions, when making financial decisions. An abrupt change will cause trouble.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Listen to others before you reveal your feelings or intentions. Have your facts straight and a reasonable alternative prepared before you try to persuade others to do things your way.

Gemini (May 21-June 20): You’ll be ill-advised by someone using emotional tactics. Focus on facts, the truth and what you see with your own eyes. Do things for yourself, and avoid being put in a challenging position.

Cancer (June 21-July 22): You’ll adjust quicker than you anticipate if you make a move or change the way you do things. Let your imagination lead the way, and you’ll see the potential in something or someone.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Concentrate on something you enjoy doing. Refuse to let others upset you. Pay attention to what and who will help you gain the most. Invest time and money in something that you do well.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Concentrate on home, family and what brings you joy. Nurture meaningful relationships, and strive to make your home welcoming. A lifestyle change will be energizing.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Figure out the best way to proceed, then take action. Don’t wait for someone to step in and take charge. Indecisiveness will be your downfall. Engage in doing what you do best.

Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22): Discuss what’s bothering you to nullify a challenging situation. The sooner you find out where you stand, the easier it will be to make adjustments. New beginnings will lead to better days ahead.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21): Don’t support someone who has a hidden agenda or uses manipulative tactics to sway people’s opinions. Take a no-nonsense approach to how you live, what you believe and how you treat others.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Channel your energy into getting ahead. Productivity will lead to opportunity. Take action, and turn an idea into something concrete. A change of heart will help you make progress.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19): A challenge will leave you feeling confused. Take a closer look, and you’ll discover that you have the upper hand. Use your experience to overcome any change that comes your way.