Tustin Unified School District athletic camps will be postponed after Friday

Foothill’s football team takes the field in a game last season. (File photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

One day after many Orange County public school districts decided to postpone high school athletic camps, officials at the Tustin Unified School District said Tuesday all athletic camps will be suspended indefinitely after Friday, according to Mark Eliot, director of communications for the district.

All camps that started will continue through Friday, except for the Tustin High football camp, which was stopped indefinitely on Tuesday because of “a scheduling issue,” Eliot said.

“All other sports at Beckman, Foothill and Tustin will continue through Friday, July 10,” Eliot said.

Camps for football and other sports began in the Tustin district on Friday, June 15 for Foothill and Tustin and on Monday, June 22 for Beckman following social distancing guidelines.

On Monday, Orange County superintendents at county districts were informed that state officials have not authorized high school camps to begin forcing a number of public school districts to put a hold on athletic camps that were either under way or planned.

Beckman High football coach Marcello Giuliano said his camp will run through Friday.

“Our plan at Beckman is to follow the directive of our superintendent,” Giuliano said Tuesday. “We’re going to continue as planned within our phase two guidelines that our district approved weeks ago and we’re going to finish this week and really fingers crossed, what we’re hoping for is that the state clarifies what our status is because I know there are youth basketball camps, youth soccer camps and youth flag football camps. Hopefully we fall under that umbrella rather than a team sport umbrella because we’re out here and we’re conditioning and we’re learning some stuff, but it’s not real football.”

A letter was sent Tuesday to parents and athletes from the Tustin school district explaning the latest decision.

“Yesterday, the Orange County Department of Education provided school districts with clarification that the State has not authorized high school athletics to commence training.  The Tustin Unified School District began our summer training programs when the state allowed youth sports camps. Our coaches, staff and athletes have run a model summer program under the guidance provided for that sector. 

“TUSD believes families and coaches need more than a one-day notice to find alternative supervision and activities for their children.  Therefore, TUSD will be suspending summer athletics and activities effective Friday, July 10, 2020. Athletics practices may occur on Friday, July 10.  No practices after July 10 until you receive further notification.

“TUSD will take every opportunity to return our students to our summer athletics and activities as soon as any new guidance allows.”

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