Football, outdoor sports ready to go
The San Joaquin County Office of Emergency Services announced on Wednesday that since the county had fallen below 14 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, the standards have been met for football and other outdoor sports to return to action.
The response was swift among Lodi and Tokay programs that have waited a year to play games. The Tri-City Athletic League has football, baseball and softball in its second season of sport, which runs from March 1 to April 17.
Football programs have begun their first practices after being stuck in conditioning drills for months, and baseball and softball teams are taking to the diamond for tryouts.
“It’s kind of surreal,” said Tokay football coach and Athletic Director Michael Holst. “I told the kids I kind of forgot how to coach in a group. We’ve been in small groups for so long. We’re all kind of relearning things.”
Holst said the football team, per CIF rules, have to hold five practices before full contact practice can commence, so the first two were in helmets, and the next three are in helmets and pads with no hitting.
“Baseball and softball are off and running, then football is moving, and we’re working on the testing component to it,” Holst said. “There’s no news on that right now. We have a meeting scheduled on Monday to discuss that with the district. They’re going to kind of deliver the guidance on that that they got from the county.”
Over at Lodi, the football players have begun practice as well, and the baseball and softball teams are holding tryouts, with baseball scheduled for a scrimmage on Saturday.
“There’s no umps or anything, but it’s more than we’ve had in a year,” said Lodi High Athletic Director Robert Winterhalter.
Lodi football coach George Duenas said his team plans its first full contact practice for Monday.
“I think everyone’s just happy to be out there again. Practice is going great, got the good news again on Tuesday, so for sure we get to have a season,” Duenas said. “So yeah, we’re all having a good time out there. I’m not even getting mad or frustrated on some things like I used to. It’s like hey, it is what it is, you know? I’m having a good time.”
The county’s guidelines, which come from guidelines issued by the California Department of Public Health, have the following stipulations: face covering must be worn when players are not participating, and must be worn at all times by coaches, support staff and observers; mixing with other households before and after any practice or competition must adhere to current gathering guidance; players must be tested weekly, with results made available within 24 hours of play; players must give informed consent about the dangers posed;
hygiene and sanitation guidelines must be followed; limits on mixing by participants must be followed; and travel limitations must be followed.
“The state is expected to release guidelines for weekly testing for football and water polo athletes and coaches soon,” the release by OES said. “Sports participants, including coaches and support staff, are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated once eligible as vaccines will protect residents and reduce the likelihood of transmission from infected persons to others. COVID-19 is still spreading and prevalent in San Joaquin County. Community members are reminded that gatherings are still prohibited. You may have the virus and spread it even if you feel well.”
Winterhalter also said he is looking forward to getting guidance on testing for football players. Baseball and softball players, with less contact to the sport, do not have the same testing requirements.
“We’re in go mode as far as I’m concerned. Football is started, we have our TCAL schedule. Main thing we’re waiting on right now is testing protocols,” Winterhalter said. “We’re waiting for that to come from the district, that way all four schools are on the same page.”
TCAL football is scheduled to begin on March 19, with Tokay traveling to West while Lodi hosts Linden in a non-league game. Neither football team has St. Mary’s on the short schedule.
Lodi baseball is set to host Franklin-Stockton on March 11 before opening up TCAL play against St. Mary’s on March 16. Tokay baseball will host Franklin on March 15 and open at West the next day.
Lodi softball opens at St. Mary’s on March 16, and Tokay is set to face Franklin on March 11 before opening TCAL play at home against West on March 15.