CIF Commissioners Push Decision On Fall Sports To July


The next date to circle on your calendar is July 20. 

That day has been pinpointed as a drop-dead date to determine if fall sports will go forward as scheduled, the CIF State Office announced Friday in a release following a conference with the state office and the 10 section commissioners. 

On the day California moved into Stage 3 of its four-stage reopening plan following a nearly three-month shutdown in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the CIF release provided the next step in determining a potential return to high school sports.

"We continue to monitor the directives and guidelines released from the Governor's Office, the California Department of Education and State/Local County Health Departments and Agencies as these directives and guidelines are followed by our member schools/school districts when they are planning when and how to reopen school this Fall," the release said.

"As our member schools begin planning for the reopening of school, the CIF, in collaboration with our 10 Sections, will be determining by July 20 if Fall Sports will continue as currently scheduled. The CIF is prepared to offer alternative calendars if it is determined by July 20 that Fall sports may not start as scheduled due to ongoing public health and safety concerns."

In the original 2020-21 CIF sports calendar, the cross country season was set to open September 3 and conclude with the State Championships at Woodward Park in Fresno on November 28.

The Southern Section, the largest of the state's 10 sections, with roughly 38 percent of the state's schools, issued a release from which includes the following from CIF-SS Commissioner Rob Wigod:

"The message I want to convey to all of you is that we are totally committed to having Fall, Winter and Spring Sports during the 2020-2021 school year. I want to remind you that the decisions to reopen our schools, and subsequently bring back athletic programs after they have started their academic year, will be made entirely by each local Superintendent/School Board from a public school district or each private school Head of School/School Board who have the authority to make those decisions. I am sure they will follow the recommendations of state and local health authorities in arriving at the decisions that are in the best interests of their students and school communities.

"This week, we had a teleconference with the CIF State Office and the 10 CIF Section Commissioners. At this meeting, there was a lengthy discussion regarding the various scenarios that relate to Fall Sports. In the effort to give as much time as possible to make the most informed decision we can, it was agreed that there will be an announcement from the CIF State Office addressing the status of Fall Sports to be made no later than Monday, July 20."

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic shut down the spring sports season in mid-March after only three-and-a-half weeks, forced schools to close and with it a nationwide introduction to distance learning. 

On Friday, California moved into Stage 3 of the state's reopening plan, giving hope for a return to a normal schedule in the fall if the state continues to show a decline in cases of the deadly coronavirus that has already resulted in the deaths of more than 116,000 in the U.S. and nearly 4,700 in California.

The CIF State's release includes CIF Return to Physical Activity/Training Guidelines, Physical Examination Waiver and Financial Hardship Waiver

Earlier this week, the state's community college association (CCCAA) announced a three-option plan for a return of sports that keeps cross country in the fall, albeit with a schedule reduced by up to 30 percent of normal and the elimination of all state championships during the 2020-21 academic calendar.