By the Daily Post staff
The rise in positive coronavirus cases has prompted the California Interscholastic Federation, or CIF, to postpone high school sports — both practice and competition — until January at the earliest.
The CIF said it is waiting for guidance from the California Department of Public Health, which isn’t expected until next month. All sports are on hold until those guidelines are released.
The postponement applies to football, boys and girls volleyball, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls water polo and boys and girls cross country.
Practices in those sports had already started.
Football season-opening games were expected to start Jan. 8. But even if practices are allowed starting Jan. 1, that wouldn’t be enough time to have teams ready for a Jan. 8 start. As a result, the football season could start in late January at the earliest.
The CIF also announced the cancellation of all regional and state championship events in those sports to allow athletes in Season II a longer season. The season would have been cut short if championship games were to take place.
The CIF also said that boys volleyball is moving to the spring season.
The CIF said decisions on when sports will resume depends on how quickly counties are able to control the pandemic.
“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 CIF said in a statement. “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 is provided by the (California Department of Public Health).”
