All 25 Mater Dei sports teams return for practices under strict safety measures

Mater Dei football coach Bruce Rollinson leads his squad in 2018. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

All 25 athletic teams at Mater Dei High School are now holding off-season practices in accordance to safety guidelines provided by the Orange County Health Department, says new Athletic Director Amanda Waters.

High school sports have been on hold since March because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, a number of schools have allowed high school sports camps to return or start.

“We are using many safety precautions that follow the guidelines given to us by the County Health Department,” Waters said in an Email Wednesday.

Waters said all teams are following strict safety protocol. Scrimmages and contact are not allowed and individuals must maintain a six feet distance.

“Off-season training is not required and does not serve as tryouts,” Waters said.

Waters added that if anyone shows symptoms of the coronavirus, the athletic staff will be contacted immediately.

“Athletes are required to wear a mask when not engaging in physical activity,” she said. “Coaches are required to wear a mask at all times. Dismissal of athletes must be staggered, one at a time to maintain social distancing.”

Waters said that Mater Dei is not using testing for its athletes. 

“We are using passive screening as recommended by the OC Health Department,” she said. 

Under the new CIF plan announced in July, girls and boys volleyball, girls and boys water polo and girls and boys water polo would begin in December and football would start in January 2021 if health officials give approval.

Coach Bruce Rollinson’s football team is scheduled to open the season on Friday, Jan. 15 at Centennial Corona. The squad has not yet announced an opponent for week one on Friday, Jan. 8.

Mater Dei will then have three consecutive home games at Santa Ana Bowl: Thursday, Jan. 21, vs. Muir; Friday, Jan. 29 against Cosumnes Oaks and Friday, Feb. 5 vs. La Mirada.

The Monarchs are scheduled to finish the regular season with two Trinity League games at home: Friday, March 5 vs. Santa Margarita and Friday, March 12 against St. John Bosco.

“We will be following the guidelines given to us by the state (socially distanced, limited attendance, designated entry and exit points),” Waters said when asked what safety measures would be in place for games.

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