Sac-Joaquin Section sanctions four schools for football activities

The Sac-Joaquin Section announced Thursday that four of its schools have been sanctioned for participating in football activities when they were prohibited.

“The CIF, its Sections and member schools were bound by the orders, regulations, and guidance of the Governor’s Office, the California Department of Public Health (‘CDPH’) and the California Department of Education (‘CDE’), during the pandemic,” the section said in a press release. “As such, CIF-SJS member leagues, school districts and schools are/were required to comply with the CIF and CIF-SJS bylaws, the orders, regulations, and guidance of the Governor’s Office, CDPH, and CDE.”

According to the release, an investigation of the section’s 150 schools determined that Capital Christian in Sacramento, Ripon Christian, Stone Ridge Christian in Merced and Vacaville Christian participated in football during February and March when interscholastic football competition was prohibited the CIF, the section and the state.

“Unfortunately, a few schools after being put on notice by the Section, that participation in football would be a violation of guidance provided by the Governor’s office, the CDPH, and CDE, elected to participate in football contests while wearing school uniforms, using school equipment and school facilities under the supervision of team coaches,” said Section Commissioner Michael Garrison in the press release. “We expect all of our schools to follow the rules and we attempted to be as proactive as possible in getting that message out but unfortunately there were a few schools who ignored the rules and my guidance.”

Capital Christian, Ripon Christian and Stone Ridge Christian will all have their athletic programs on academic probation for a year, be banned from the football postseason for two years, and have their football teams on probation for three years. Vacaville Christian will only have its football program on probation for three years, with no postseason ban.