CIF State office delays decision on whether to cancel spring sports playoffs

The CIF State office released a statement Tuesday afternoon after discussing the coronvirus crisis and has tabled a decision on whether to cancel spring sports championships.

Here is the statement:

“Today the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Office and the 10 Section Commissioners held their annual scheduled spring meeting. The agenda included a discussion concerning the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 CIF spring sports season.

“While the time may come when we have to cancel post-season events, today is not that day. In anticipation of further guidance and directives issued by federal, state and local government agencies regarding COVID-19, the CIF has not determined the future of spring sports events at this time and intends to reconvene with the 10 Section Commissioners on April 3 to revisit this issue. Pending that time, Sections will continue to confer with their local leadership and the State CIF will continue to monitor any directives and recommendations issued from the above entities.

“The CIF will continue to work with our schools and school districts with the health and well-being of student-athletes and school communities as our priority.

“Additionally, the originally scheduled April 3, 2020, CIF Federated Council Meeting has been postponed and will be rescheduled no earlier than May 8, 2020, and will be held via teleconference.”

Earlier in the day, the CIF Southern Section office announced it will temporarily close beginning Wednesday.

Here is the release from the CIF Southern Section:

“The CIF Southern Section, due to the continued concerns and in an abundance of caution related to the COVID-19 virus, will be closing our office effective tomorrow, Wednesday March 18 through Friday, March 27. At that time, we will re-evaluate our office service based on the recommendations and guidance of local, state and federal health organizations. All employees will be working remotely during this time and will be reachable via their individual email accounts….

“The March 26 CIF Southern Section Executive Committee Meeting and the March 31 CIF Southern Section Council Meeting have both been postponed to a date yet to be determined. Plans to hold both remotely are currently being put together and more information and direction will be forthcoming once those are finalized. Information on the scheduled April 3 CIF State Federated Council Meeting will be released by that office at 5 p.m. today.”

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