Still no clarity if first 4 high school sports can begin practicing in 3 weeks -

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY—Three weeks from Monday high school sports are slated to return in California. Whether or not that happens isn’t much clearer today than last summer when the state high school federation announced the cancellation of fall sports and set up a schedule of three abbreviated seasons with competitions from January to June.

That timetable has Dec. 7 as the date for cross country, water polo, football and volleyball to begin official team practices. The caveat to all this is that state and local government and health officials hold the starter’s button in their hand and no one can say with certainly they’ll push that button. And, even more confusing, is that some areas may give the go-ahead and other counties will not.

Just look at what happened last week when local health rules called off the Pac-12 football game in Berkeley between Cal and Washington a day before their season-opening game due to a single positive test.

The news in the past week of the most coronavirus cases in the state since August amid a national increase certainly isn’t giving anyone increased confidence. Contra Costa Board of Supervisors chair Candance Andersen reported last Friday, “With data from the past week showing a marked increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in Contra Costa County, health officials are taking steps to protect the community with modest changes to local health orders.”

North Coast Section commissioner Pat Cruickshank says the CIF state office has not issued any specific guidelines for how schools must conduct trainings, how many athletes and coaches can be in a confined area (only volleyball among the first four sports getting underway is played indoors) nor are there any testing protocols.

Clayton Valley Charter athletic director and former long-time high school and college coach Bob Ralston says, “It’s really frustrating waiting [on word if the school will be able to proceed Dec. 7]. We’re doing everything we can to make it somewhat normal for our student athletes.”

He says doing conditioning you can keep six-foot distancing and even wear marks during outdoor meetings and when not doing physical activity. In volleyball, water polo and football the nature of the sports includes close physical contact. He concludes, “I don’t think anyone knows [what’s going to happen].”

Long-time prep sports journalist Mitch Stephens of MaxPreps.com shared information from around the United States. Many parts of the country conducted football in the fall, some even with large crowds in the stands. (Something that most definitely will not be happening anytime soon in California).

He cited Utah as the first state to start football this year. “It was looking good for about 5-6 weeks, until we jinxed them. I did a story and it seemed right after a lot more cases.” He mentioned that Alaska canceled all its football state championships.

The nation’s No. 12 team, a 26-time Kentucky state champion, canceled its last regular-season game, went into two-week quarantine and will have one practice before starting the playoffs this Friday.

In Clayton, Ohio an undefeated team (No. 6 in the state) had one positive test and dropped out of the playoffs. The Florida state playoffs began with some teams having played two or three regular season games.

A showdown in New Jersey between two teams in the National Top 20 was postponed and most likely canceled due to the virus.

While the Pac-12 is testing its football players for COVID-19 daily, there is currently no protocol for any testing of California high school athletes. As always, each student is required to get a medical clearance form signed by a physician for clearance to take part in sports.

When schools had a temporary greenlight last summer to begin training, schools were taking temperatures of everyone participating before each session and that will presumably continue.

The East Bay Athletic League and Diablo Athletic League “traditional” schedules were modified as to how, when and where games and meets were scheduled to reduce travel and other factors that might increase the possibility of exposing athletes, coaches and officials to the virus.

All sports will be held for boys and girls at the same time during the already condensed “fall” and “spring” calendars developed at the state level, which creates facility use challenges that had to be addressed.

“FALL” SCHEDULE

1^st day of practice Dec. 7 for all fall sports

Football

Non-league Games Jan. 8 – Feb. 13
DAL League Games Feb. 19 – Mar. 19 (Fridays)
EBAL League Games Feb. 20 – Mar. 20 (Saturdays)
NCS Playoffs Mar. 26-Apr. 10
Regional/Open Division State Championships Apr. 16/17

Cross Country (Boys & Girls)

Dual & Invitational Meets January – February
DAL Center Meets Jan 30 and Feb. 20
DAL Championship Meet Mar. 6 (Hidden Valley Park, Martinez)
EBAL Championship Meet Mar. 13 (Newhall Park, Concord)
NCS Championship Meet Mar. 20 (Hayward High School)
CIF State Championship Meet Mar. 27 (Woodward Park, Fresno)

Volleyball (Boys & Girls)

Non-league Games & Tournaments January-February
DAL League Games Jan. 12 – Feb. 25
EBAL League Games Jan. 26 – Feb. 25
NCS Playoffs Mar. 2-13
NorCal Championships Girls & Boys Mar. 20

Water Polo (Boys & Girls)

Non-league Games & Tournaments January-February
DAL League Games Jan. 20 – Feb. 24
EBAL League Games Jan. 26 – Feb. 25
NCS Playoffs Mar. 3-13
NorCal Championships Mar. 16-20

“SPRING” SCHEDULE

Soccer

1^st day of practice Feb. 22

Non-league Games & Tournaments February – May
DAL League Games Mar. 16 – May 13
EBAL League Games Mar. 10 – May 12
NCS Playoffs May 18-29
NorCal Championships June 1-5

Swimming & Diving (Boys & Girls)

1^st day of practice Mar. 8

Non-league Meets & Invitationals March – May
DAL League Dual Meets Mar. 29 – May 10
EBAL League Dual Meets Apr. 19 – May 17
DAL League Championship Meet May 20-22 (Campolindo High, Moraga)
EBAL League Championship Meet TBA
NCS Championship Meet May 27-29 (Concord Community Pool)
State Championship Meet June 3-5 (Clovis Olympic Swim Complex)

Tennis (Boys & Girls)

1^st day of practice Mar. 8

Non-league Matches & Tournaments March – May
DAL League Matches Mar. 25 – May 11
EBAL League Matches Mar. 16 – May 11
DAL Tournament May 13-15
EBAL Tournament May 13-17 (Crow Canyon Country Club, Danville)
NCS Team Championships May 18-29
NorCal Team Championships Girls & Boys June 1-5
NCS Singles/Doubles Championships TBA

Wrestling (Boys & Girls)

1^st day of practice Mar. 8

Non-league Matches & Tournaments March – May
DAL League Matches Apr. 21 – May 12TBA
EBAL League Matches Apr. 22 – May 12
DAL League Championship Meet May 28-29
EBAL League Championship Meet May 19
NCS Dual Meet Team Championships May 22
NCS Meet June 4-5
State Meet June 10-12 (Mechanics Bank Arena, Bakersfield)

Baseball