Indoor athletes will get tested for COVID
Section playoffs possible; testing a weekly requirement
MONTEREY >> Indoor sports will be on the menu this spring for high schools that choose to participate in an abbreviated season. So too could be sectional playoffs.
Unlike outdoor sports that have resumed, testing for COVID-19 will be a weekly requirement for indoor sports. That is one of the reasons some schools have already opted out.
“We made the decision to prioritize the sports that got canceled last spring,” Stevenson athletic director Justin Clymo said. “Will it change? We’ll see. We will evolve as conditions change. We’re not playing basketball.”
The potential for a postseason for all spring sports in the Central Coast Section is on the table. How that will evolve is in question, particularly for the Pacific Coast Athletic League members.
The PCAL canceled all league schedules in January. PCAL schools that choose to participate in Season 2 sports are making up their own schedules. With no league play, how would the PCAL determine who goes to the playoffs — in any sport?
“The last thing on our minds is trying to get to the postseason,” Monterey athletic director Jeff Dellis said. “If we get eight to 10 basketball games, we will be thrilled.”
Schools in Santa Cruz County have already opted out of postseason play. And the Salinas Union School District has elected to compete within its
own district like it did when
Season 1 resumed.
That leaves a handful of schools in Monterey County left for boys and girls basketball to put together schedules between them.
Basketball isn’t the only indoor sport that began practice last week. Boys volleyball and boys and girls wrestling will be offered at a handful of schools.
“We will try and find the guidance and follow the rules to see if we can fit it in,” Carmel athletic director Golden Anderson said. “At the very least, we want to provide an opportunity to experience the sport.”
All indoor sports will require weekly testing, and rapid testing 48 hours before competition, similar to how colleges did it this past winter. The school districts will be required to pay for it.
“We are governed by collegiate rules for basketball and wrestling,” Pacific Grove boys basketball coach Dan Powers said. “We have to follow what the NCAA has done. The district will foot the bill.”
Carmel, Pacific Grove and Palma are slated to start basketball practice Monday. Monterey started April 5, while Seaside began this past Monday. San Benito is practicing, but holding workouts outdoors for now.
“Our intent is we will test all indoor sports every Monday,” Dellis said. “We tested 150 kids and coaches on the first day for all of our indoor sports.”
While the county recently moved to the Orange Tier, testing for high school indoor sports is still required by the state a minimum of 48 hours before an event, unless the county reaches the less restrictive Yellow Tier.
“We’re trying to be as flexible as we can,” Anderson said. “If we have opportunities, we will do
the best we can. It’s how we’ve looked at every sport.”
Carmel conducted practices for all Season 1 sports for six weeks, including girls volleyball, which held practices outdoors, but never competed.
Monterey is following a similar format for swimming, where it is conducting practice, but will not have any meets this spring.
It’s uncertain how many schools will field basketball teams this spring. In addition to Stevenson, King City, Greenfield, Soledad and Gonzales have all opted out for now.
Clymo is also the boys’ basketball coach, but his entire squad plays either lacrosse, baseball or runs track in the spring. Current restrictions allow athletes to participate in just one sport in the same season.
“My own kids play on the girls’ basketball team,” Clymo said. “If we get into the Yellow Tier and testing isn’t required, maybe we look to get a game or two later this year. Right now our priorities are with spring outdoor sports.”
With the Salinas Union High School District schools just playing each other, that leaves Carmel, Pacific Grove, Monterey, Seaside, Marina, Palma, North County and San Benito as teams that could play each other in basketball in terms of counties that border each other.
“That’s a challenge,” Powers said. “The PCAL dissolved this year. Would districts allow us to play outside the county? That’s the biggest challenge. There is limitation on where you can go.’’
Palma athletic director Rob Bishop is hoping the bordering restrictions will be lifted, creating openings to play teams in Santa Clara County such as PCAL rivals Gilroy and Christopher of Morgan Hill.
“Maybe we can get a few West Catholic Athletic League opponents,” Bishop said. “The state just said we can play teams within the state. I would assume that would lift border restrictions in this county. Right now we don’t have a schedule.”
Other Season 2 sports include baseball, softball, boys and girls swimming, lacrosse, track and field, golf, tennis, soccer and boys volleyball.
“If we can play games, it would be an awesome experience,” Powers said. “I don’t know how you would qualify teams for the playoffs. We’re moving toward playing. But it is slow because it has to be approved at the district level. And can everybody follow the rules?”
A positive test would likely shut down any program for 10 to 14 days. Outdoor sports have not been forced to test. But a positive test at Alvarez from a family member forced them to cancel last week’s football game.
Sports like track and field, swimming, tennis and golf rely on a finals type format to advance beyond a league meet. But there are no league finals this year. Most track teams have a three-meet schedule.
The California Interscholastic Federation currently shows Season 2 sports extending to June 17 with a postseason format. Most schools end by June 4.
“That’s (playoffs) really not what this season is about,” Powers said. “What I would point out is playing allows you to honor your seniors, let them put the uniform on. And you want to move your program forward for next (school) year. You want continuity and some momentum.”