CIF pushes back start to January

All Vacaville-area schools affected

The California Interscholastic Federation pushed pause on its return-to-play plans Tuesday, announcing in a news release that it does not expect to receive California Department of Public Health guidelines before Jan. 1.

“Thus, all full practice and competition start dates are officially on hold until updated guidance is issued,” the CIF said.

The decision affects all of the Solano County schools, including Vacaville, Will. C. Wood, Vanden, Dixon, Vacaville Christian and Buckingham Charter.

If given the green light, the CIF says it will remove all regional and state championships from the season that was to begin this month, clearing the way for more students than just playoff contenders to have a longer schedule.

The CIF also announced that boys volleyball is being moved from the winter to spring (Season 1 to Season 2) because the boys season was canceled in the last school year. The boys traditionally play volleyball in the spring.

“The CIF is confident this decision is a necessary and reasonable action for our member

schools, student-athletes, and school communities in light of the current statewide crisis,” the news release stated. “This revision to the CIF State 202021 Season 1 Sports calendar offers our Sections and Leagues the flexibility and needed time to plan for the return to practice and competition once updated guidance is provided by the CDPH.”

T he a n nou nc ement Tuesday comes six days before the Sac- Joaquin Section’s traditional fall sports teams — football, volleyball, water polo, cross country — were to begin practice.

But any optimism that emanated from the CIF’s announcement in July to postpone sports until December dissipated as coronavirus numbers spiked in November.

A number of schools in the area have been conditioning on campus. The CIF said those sessions can continue as long as county health guidelines allow.