High school sports and other programs in Anaheim District shut down as cases rise

Western High School football coach Dan Davidson had to tell his players Friday about the decision by the Anaheim Union High School District to suspend athletic practices beginning Monday until further notice because of rising coronavirus numbers.

Athletic high school programs in the district have been ordered to put practices on hold beginning Monday because of rising coronavirus case numbers, district officials announced on Twitter Friday night.

High schools in the district include Anaheim, Cypress, Katella, Kennedy, Loara, Magnoilia, Savanna and Western.

“I went into coaching because I was able to witness the value that sports provide so many young athletes,” Davidson said Friday night. “It is not always about the sports itself, but so many wonderful things it allows student/athletes.

“We will continue training our football team like we did when the first closure happened back in March. We will provide workouts for the players, have Zoom meetings teaching techniques and continue the install of our our offense and defense, not so much for the growth of our program, but the essential need for the continued growth as young adults.

“We do not just speak about being a team and and a family, we absolutely live it. We must always remember that safety is first and if this is what the district, county and scientists say is best for our students, then we will adjust and learn other values from this experience.”

Coronavirus cases have continued to rise in Orange County, which remains in the most restrictive purple tier.

“As COVID cases continue to surge locally, especially within AHUSD zip codes, in order to further protect staff and students, all athletics and visual and performing arts practices are temporarily on hold until further notice, effective 12/7/2020,” district officials said in their release.

High school athletic programs have been going through conditioning drills. According to the Orange County Health Care Agency, there were 13,862 confirmed cases in Anaheim, the second highest in the county, where most of the schools are located, on Friday. Santa Ana has 16,041, according to Friday’s report.

Earlier this week, CIF State officials announced that the start of the high school sports season in 2021 has been put on hold as officials wait for further guidance on return to play guidelines from the California Department of Public Health.

However, athletic teams have been allowed to continue conditioning.

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