Here’s tentative start dates for all high school sports under revised guidelines

Corona del Mar’s football team is one of the squads that will be allowed to compete again in March if the county meets certain criteria. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

CIF Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod provided an encouraging update Friday to high school principals and athletic directors on revised return to play guidelines for outdoor sports following a press conference by Gov. Gavin Newsom that opened the path.

Most sports have been shut down since the middle of last March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cross country has been the only sport allowed to compete.

“Today, we have received information from the Governor’s Office and the California Department of Public Health regarding return to play for outdoor sports, based on the factor of each county’s Adjusted Case Rate for COVID-19 per 100,000 people,” Wigod said in a memo also shared with the media.

“The threshold for outdoor sports to begin competition is 14 cases or lower per 100,000 people, as of Friday, Feb.26, 2021.”

Wigod said the current rate for Orange County is 20.7 and for Los Angeles County 20. But he expects all counties to eventually be at or below the 14 threshold. Riverside County is currently at 28.8.

“Once your county reaches the required threshold, the following fall outdoor sports can begin competition (list to follow) provided the required COVD-19 testing mandated by the California Department of Public Health is done for boys/girls water polo and football,” Wigod said.

Here’s a look at the revised dates for sports relased by Wigod and the CIF:

FALL SPORTS

—-Boys/girls water polo – Begin competition Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, season ends on March 20, 2021.

—-Football: There are three different scenarios that CIF has proposed, depending on when counties are cleared to play. Teams are required to have 10 days of full practice.

If county reaches the threshold by Feb. 23:

Tuesday, Feb. 23 – Day #1 (Conditioning: Helmets, t-shirts, shorts) Wednesday, Feb. 24 – Day #2 (Conditioning: Helmets, t-shirts, shorts) Thursday, Feb. 25 – Day #3 (Conditioning: Helmets, t-shirts, shorts) Friday, Feb. 26 – Day #4 (First day of full pads) Saturday, Feb. 27 – Day #5 Monday, March 1 – Day #6 Tuesday, March 2 – Day #7 Wednesday, March 3 – Day #8  Thursday, March 4 – Day #9 Friday, March 5 – Day #10 Saturday, March 6 — Day #11 (Interscholastic scrimmage) Monday, March 8 – Day #12 Tuesday March 9 – Day #13 Wednesday, March 10 – Day #14

Thursday, March 11/Friday, March 12/Saturday, March 13 – Game #1

Thursday, March 18/Friday, March 19/Saturday, March 20 – Game #2

Thursday, March 25/Friday, March 26/Saturday, March 27 – Game #3

Thursday, April 1/Friday, April 2/Saturday, April 3 – Game #4

Thursday, April 8/Friday, April 9/Saturday, April 10 – Game #5

Thursday, April 15/Friday, April 16/Saturday, April 17 – Game #6 

If county reaches the threshold by Tuesday, March 2:

Tuesday, March 2 – Day #1 (Conditioning: Helmets, t-shirts, shorts) Wednesday, March 3 – Day #2 (Conditioning: Helmets, t-shirts, shorts)  Thursday, March 4 – Day #3 (Conditioning: Helmets, t-shirts, shorts) Friday, March 5 – Day #4 (First day of full pads) Saturday, March 6 – Day #5 Monday, March 8 – Day #6 Tuesday, March 9 – Day #7 Wednesday, March 10 – Day #8 Thursday, March 11 – Day #9 Friday, March 12 – Day #10 Saturday, March 13 – Day #11 (Interscholastic scrimmage) Monday, March 15. Day #12 Tuesday March 16 – Day #13 Wednesday, March 17 – Day #14 

Thursday, March 18/Friday, March 19/Saturday, March 20 – Game #1

Thursday, March 25/Friday, March 26/Saturday, March 27 – Game #2

Thursday, April 1/Friday, April 2/Saturday, April 3 – Game #3

Thursday, April 8/Friday, April 9/Saturday, April 10 – Game #4

Thursday, April 15/Friday, April 16/Saturday, April 17 – Game #5.

If the county reaches the threshold by March 9:

Tuesday, March 9 – Day #1 (Conditioning: Helmets, t-shirts, shorts) Wednesday, March 10 – Day #2 (Conditioning: Helmets, t-shirts, shorts) Thursday, March 11 – Day #3 (Conditioning: Helmets, t-shirts, shorts) Friday, March 12 – Day #4 (First day of full pads) Saturday, March 13 – Day #5 Monday, March 15 – Day #6 Tuesday, March 16 – Day #7 Wednesday, March 17 – Day #8 Thursday, March 18 – Day #9 Friday, March 19 – Day #10 Saturday, March 20 – Day #11 (Interscholastic scrimmage) Monday, March 22 – Day #12 Tuesday March 23 – Day #13 Wednesday, March 24 – Day #14

Thursday, March 25/Friday, March 26/Saturday, March 27 – Game #1

Thursday, April 1/Friday, April 2/Saturday, April 3 – Game #2

Thursday, April 8/Friday, April 9/Saturday, April 10 – Game #3

Thursday, April 15/Friday, April 16/Saturday, April 17 – Game #4

SPRING SPORTS

–— Girls tennis (Can begin as planned on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021. Dual matches only.)

—Boys/girls soccer – Feb. 27, 2021.

—Boys tennis – March 1, 2021 (Dual Matches only.)

—- Boys/girls lacrosse – March 12, 2021.

–— Boys/girls swimming and diving – March 13, 2021 (Dual Meets only.)

–—Baseball – March 19, 2021.

–—Softball – March 19, 2021.

–—Boys/girls golf – March 20, 2021 (Dual Matches only.)

––Boys/Girls track and field – March 20, 2021 (Dual Meets only.) 

INDOOR SPORTS

“We will continue to be in discussions with the Governor’s Office and the California Department of Public Health on a plan for return to play for indoor sports,” Wigod said. “However, if possible, indoor sports can begin to play outdoors, if your county meets the required threshold of 14 cases or less per 100,000 people …..”

Wigod said in his press conference Friday that CIF offficials would prefer to have basketball and volleyball games played in gymnasiums, but said discussions could also include plans to move the sports to outdoor courts.

—–Girls volleyball – Feb. 26, 2021. Season ends on March 20, 2021.

—-Traditional competitive cheer – Immediately. (Virtually, or in a dual match format only.)

—–Boys/Girls wrestling – March 5, 2021 (dual matches only.)

—- Badminton – March 6, 2021 (Dual Matches only.)

—–Boys/girls basketball – March 12, 2021.

–—Boys volleyball – March 13, 2021.

—–Competitive sport cheer – March 27, 2021 (Dual Matches only.) 

“We hope to have an update later on the situation with indoor sports and as soon as that information becomes available, I will update you at that time,” Wigod added.

Wigod concluded his note saying “we are now prepared to enter another phase of this journey we have been on for almost an entire year. From the very beginning, we have always tried to keep the focus on student-athletes, doing all we can to come through for them and be able to resume our education based athletics programs. Let us resolve in the time ahead to continue to do all we can in service to the young people we are so fortunate to serve.”

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