What does CIF update mean for the future of high school sports? OC coaches and ADs react

Segerstrom High players take the field for a game in 2019. (File photo courtesy Mark Bausman, For OC Sports Zone)

Although there won’t be post-season competition for some sports, the announcement Tuesday by CIF officials received general support from some Orange County coaches and two athletic directors contacted by OC Sports Zone.

Championships for football, boys and girls water polo, girls volleyball and boys and girls cross country have been cancelled but regular seasons could still be held and there are more opportunities for league and non-league contests provided counties are in appropriate tiers which measure coronavirus figures.

But the key factor now is that the stay at home order in Southern California would have to end for sports to start up.

“We must have the stay at home order lifted before anything can happen and that includes the Jan. 25 date which was originally put out by the California Department of Public Health as a competition date that could resume here in California,” CIF Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod said Tuesday.

” …. So right now, the stay at home order is in effect and if it stays in effect, there can’t be any competition among high schools in the sport of cross country starting Jan. 25 as that’s the only sport we have in the purple tier.”

So it appears the start of cross country could be moved to February or March. Cross country is the only sport the CIF has planned in its January through April schedule that is in the purple tier.

“Once that (the stay at home order) is lifted, cross country will be good to go,” said Mark Cunningham, Irvine Unified School District Athletic Director.

Cunningham said he hopes cross country can start in February, if not then in March.

There are significantly more challenges for football, CIF officials are hoping games can start in March and run through April 17. However, coronavirus cases would have to drop significantly in a fairly short time because football is in the moderate tier, two tiers below the widespread tier, which Orange County and Southern California is in.

Boys lacrosse, soccer, volleyball and water polo are also in the moderate tier.

REACTION:

Amanda Waters, athletic director at Mater Dei: “We fully support the CIF office and their mission to allow us to return to play when possible. While the cancellation of championships is disappointing for our schools and athletes, the extra weeks of competition are a good trade off.

“We remain hopeful our seasons will begin soon and continue to pray for all those impacted by COVID-19.”

Joseph Tagaloa, football coach at Segerstrom: “So I am obviously excited that CIF has given us the opportunity to still be able to compete and not cancel the season. I understand that in order for us to actually get on the field, we are going to need some help, but at least there is still a chance. We are going to watch the numbers in our district and hope they begin to drop so that we get back out there.

“The fact that playoffs is cancelled is frustrating but the idea of just getting back out there on the field is well worth the sacrifice.”

Kyle Kim-E, Northwood girls and boys water polo coach: ” A month ago, I was optimistic and confident that we were going to play some water polo this school year. With the latest CIF-SS announcement, I remain optimistic since we now gain some more time to potentially play games but I am admittedly a little less confident than I was before.

“We are going to run into some new issues soon and one of the biggest issues will be the overlap of boys and girls water polo with swim, as well as other spring sports. We have a significant amount of dual sport athletes and it is tricky trying to figure out which practices these athletes need to attend and etc.

“Also, if the stay at home order is uplifted, then swim team can have their season since they can compete in the purple tier. It would be selfish and unfair of me to not allow our dual-athletes to compete in a sport that has a better chance of having their season. 

“Thus, I think it’s understandable that we (water polo) would need to reduce the amount of practices that we have been doing.

“Of course, since the announcement just came out, these are just my initial thoughts and it will take more strategic planning on my part. I want to play water polo, but ultimately there are now different things to consider than a month ago and I want to make sure that I do what is best not only for the water polo teams, but all of our student athletes.”

Mike Maceranka, football coach at Laguna Hills High: “This was expected. It allows us more time to play more games for all schools. This season is not about playing for a CIF championship, it’s about perseverance and the ability to get out there and play with your team.

“I was hoping for movement in the color structure for allowing specific sports to play. I am still hopeful CIF State and the State Health Department can get on the same page and have all sports placed in the red and purple tiers.” 

Dan O’Shea, football coach at Corona del Mar: “We welcomed the announcement and was expecting the news. We are hopeful it will provide additional weeks of the regular season to play games when the health situation allows it.”

RETURN TO PLAY GUIDELINES

CIF State:

Season 1 sports (January – April): Traditional competitive cheer, cross country, field hockey, football, gymnastics, skiing/snowboarding, girls volleyball and water polo.

Season 2 sports (March – June): Badminton, baseball, basketball, competitive sport cheer, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and
diving, tennis, track and field, boys volleyball and wrestling.

Tiers by California Department of Public Health:

Purple (Widespread): Sports allowed cross country, golf, skiing/
snowboarding, swimming and diving, tennis, and
track and field.

Red (Substantial): Sports allowed baseball, field hockey,
girls lacrosse and softball.

Moderate (Orange): Sports allowed badminton, football,
gymnastics, boys lacrosse, soccer, volleyball and
water polo.

Minimal (Yellow): Sports allowed basketball,
competitive cheerleading and wrestling.

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