CIF announces another postponement of fall season

SACRAMENTO – Dec. 12 is off the table.

That was the date originally set by the California Interscholastic Federation for the possible resumption of high school athletics. Fall sports, such as football, cross country and volleyball, would have been allowed (only with the blessing of the county health office) to begin practice, while competition would have resumed Dec. 19 or, in the case of football, Jan. 8.

On Tuesday, CIF issued a release stating full practices will again be postponed until after Jan. 1, at the earliest.

With COVID-19 cases surging throughout the state, the release explained, the California

Department of Public Health had delayed issuing updated guidance for youth sports.

CIF said it does not expect that guidance to arrive before the new year. “Thus, all full practice and competition start dates are officially on hold until updated guidance is issued,” the release said.

That’s not all. If and when Season 1 sports resume, they’ll do so without a postseason. The CIF state office said it is removing all regional and state championship events for Season 1 from the sports calendar.

“By canceling Regional and State Championship events,” CIF explained, “more student-athletes will have the opportunity to participate in a longer season, rather than a truncated season with Regional and State post-season play for a limited number of schools.”

Another change is that boys volleyball, which isn’t really a thing in Imperial Valley, will been moved to Season 2.

“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 release said. “This revision to the CIF State 2020-21 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 and provided by the CDPH.”