Shutdown to run through at least the end of the year

The drop into the most restrictive tier (purple) for the vast majority of the 58 counties across California has forced a delay in any guidance regarding high school sports for the 2020-21 school year.

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) does not expect the state public health department to issue any up-to-date guidelines for schools to return to full practice and competition until at least after the New Year, according to a press release.

In order to provide the best experience for all sports, CIF has taken Northern California regional and state postseason tournament play off the table.

Most schools in the Yuba-sutter-colusa area are now facing solely a league season plus section playoffs.

The silver lining, according to Sac-joaquin Section Commissioner Michael Garrison, is that the state will eventually be providing a pathway for many of the sports to be played via a high risk versus low risk and indooroutdoor model.

East Nicolaus High athletic director and varsity softball coach Neil Stinson said that could mean contact sports like football get dropped in priority.

“If it is tied to the tiered system then football may not be the first to reopen,” Stinson said. “I am hoping that the guidance gives programs a chance to participate.”

Stinson said while no one knows definitively what will transpire in the next month, he remains optimistic that high school sports will be played at some point in 2021.

“Nothing has been canceled,” Stinson said. “To me that is a good sign.”

The Sac-joaquin section is supposed to meet via teleconference starting today (Friday, Dec. 4) to discuss the sports calendar.

Though disappointed, Marysville football coach Jeff Freeman has been preparing his team each month for the best-case scenario regarding reopening of return-to-play activity.

“This is the year of flexibility you have to be able to roll with it,” Freeman said. “It’s been out of my control since March. I am ready for my kids to play and have a sense of normalcy.”

Freeman said under a league-only season, Marysville would open at home against

Bear River on Feb. 19 for the first of two home games without fans. The Battle of the Bell game at Lindhurst would be Feb. 26, followed by a trip to Colfax (March

5), home against Center (March 12) and at Foothill (Sacramento) to round out the regular season on March 19.

The best case, Freeman said, is eight games, including the Sac-joaquin Section playoffs.

He said it’s important to note that his program is ready to reopen whenever allowed and has not had a single player or coach test positive for COVID-19 since sports were permitted to return.

Lindhurst

Marysville’s biggest rival, Lindhurst, has shut down all its workouts until Jan. 1, according to Athletic Director Bob Jensen.

“It seems like the right thing to do given the spike in our area,” Jensen said. “The reality (is) that the season is not going to start on time and seems to be very much in jeopardy.”

Jensen said at this point the spring season has the best chance at reopening given the circumstances surrounding sports like baseball and softball.

“The CIF has stated that having those sports is the priority since they lost most of their season last year,” Jensen said. “The sports are outside, there isn’t as much direct contact as other sports, and we could