High school teams in Orange district continuing with conditioning practices

Coach Robert Pedroza leads Orange in a game last year. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

High school sports teams in the Orange Unified School District may continue conditioning drills as CIF State officials await further guidance from the California Department of Public Health on when seasons could start, according to Gunn Marie Hansen, Orange Unified School District.

Several Orange County districts stopped conditioning drills in the past week due to the rising coronavirus cases in the county and state.

But Orange Unified officials have said the drills may continue.

Hansen sent an Email on Friday night which talked about the affects of the coronavirus pandemic on the district, which includes El Modena, Orange, Canyon and Villa Park high schools.

She specifically addressed athletics in her statement, noting that the CIF State Office has cancelled post-season state competition but is waiting for more guidance on the start of the regular season.

“Unfortunately, this situation is beyond our control and sports competitions are on hold until new youth sports guidance is provided,” Hansen said. “During the new regional stay at home order, the district’s athletic programs continue to operate sports conditioning and training. We eagerly await updated youth sports guidance from the California Department of Public Health and look forward to allowing our athletes to compete as soon as it is permitted.

“In the meantime, we must continue to follow public health guidance as we wait for an update. While the Board of Education can choose to enact more restrictive policies than state and county guidance indicates, they cannot create more liberal policies as this would be a violation of State Health Orders and result in potential closure of programs ….. Current information from CIF suggests that an update to youth sports guidance can be expected early next year.”

Orange High Athletic Director Alicia Seevers confirmed Panther teams are still going through conditioning drills.

“We are continuing to condition,” she said. “We will however take a break from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3.”

CIF Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod is expected to provide an update on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021 about the future of high school sports.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com