Bethel, Vallejo athletes not allowed to condition

Athletes still have to stay in shape at home

Even though Soltno County is in Tier 2 (red), tthletes in the rtllejo district tre not tllowed to be on ctmpus.

When Solano County moved into Tier 2 (red) on Sept. 23, some athletic directors were able to get their athletes back onto campus for conditioning with limited numbers.

So far, that has not applied to athletes at Jesse Bethel and Vallejo high schools.

Last week, the Vallejo Unified School District told both schools that they could not move forward with conditioning. The schools were able to condition during a portion of the summer before coronavirus numbers in the county became too high.

“Schools like (St. Patrick- St. Vincent) are back conditioning and so are the Fairfield and Vacaville schools,” said Bethel Athletic Director and football coach Jeff Turner. “This really puts us behind. My worry is that the kids are not going to be properly prepared and have a greater chance of getting injured.”

Turner pointed to the NFL where a rash of injuries might be connected to all of the teams forgoing a preseason schedule this year.

“You saw what happened with the 49ers last week,” Turner said about San Francisco, which lost a number of starters to the injured list during a game with the Jets. “I think there are certain contact sports where your body needs to be eased into it.”

At this time last year, Bethel and Vallejo had played six football games each. However, due to the pandemic, the California Interscholastic Federation postponed fall sports until at least December and January.

“This really puts us behind. My worry is that the kids are not going to be properly prepared and have a greater chance of getting injured.”

— Jeff Turner, Bethel Athletic Director and football coach.

Vallejo Athletic Director Josh Ramos was diplomatic about the decision on Friday.

“I can see both sides,” Ramos said. “The district feels like it’s not fair to allow athletes back on campus when the other students are still at home (distance learning). Our viewpoint is that they are no- contact drills but the administration feels like it is sending the wrong message … that athletes are being treated differently than the other students.”

Last week, the Napa County School District announced it was reopening for classes on Oct. 26. American Canyon High football coach John Montante said this week that the team is cleared to condition again although the Air Quality Index will have to be considered “healthy” to do so.

Because Solano County is in Tier 2 as well, Vallejo Unified is allowed to reopen schools. However, the district said on Sept. 23 that it planned to keep students in distance learning until at least the start of the second semester, which begins in January 2021.

“The issue is not reopen

ing; it’s about staying open,” Interim- Superintendent, Mitchell Romao said in a news release.

The district will be seeking input from parents, students and staff regarding their preferences and feelings on health and safety concerning an eventual return to in-person learning, the same release stated.

Ramos said the idea of conditioning will be revisited in a meeting in about a month. He said the district wanted a “plan in place” for any possible sessions. Official practice for those sports is not allowed until December.

“I think some of the people making decisions

are not really optimistic about spots starting but the coaches and athletic directors are very optimistic because we have to be,” Ramos said. “The meeting was left kind of open ended. It kind of depends on what is going on academically.”

Turner said he sees a lot of positives with coming back and conditioning as long as athletes are safe.

“These kids have a lot of idle time right now,” he said. “They need that structure.”

The district did not comment by press time.