As most of our readers know by now, there was an important announcement by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on February 19 clearing the way for high school sports to begin in earnest throughout the state. There has been so much activity over the past few weeks that we thought it would be a good time to catch everyone up on the latest news on high school sports in California.
Q: What high school sports are currently allowed to be played in California?
A: Based on prior guidelines from the CDPH, low-contact, outdoor sports have been cleared to play as of January 25. This includes the following traditional high school sports: cross country, golf, swimming and diving, tennis and track and field. Several cross-country competitions have already taken place this year in California.
All youth sports were put into tiers based on their risk factors with the lowest-risk sports allowed to compete even in counties that are in the purple tier (widespread). Other sports have been placed in red (substantial spread), orange (moderate) and yellow (minimal) tiers based on their level of contact and whether they are conducted indoors or outdoors.
Most counties in California are designated in the purple tier, but many are expected to move into the red tier within the next couple of weeks as coronavirus cases continue to drop precipitously.
The announcement on Friday that paves the way for sports that are deemed higher risk takes effect on February 26. This opens the door for sports in the red and orange tiers to begin preparations for a season.
Q: What sports were affected by the new guidelines?
A: The following high school sports have been placed in the red tier: baseball, cheerleading, field hockey, girls lacrosse and softball. The following high school sports have been placed in the orange tier: football, rugby, boys lacrosse, soccer, water polo, badminton (singles) and gymnastics.
Prior to the guidelines released on February 19, these sports would not be cleared to begin competition until counties reached the respective coronavirus colored tier. Football, in particular, was up against the clock because the season was required to end by April 17 (since extended to May 1 by the CIF state but needing individual section approval - the Los Angeles City, Northern and Central Coast Sections have approved the extension).
With the newest guidelines, sports in the red and orange tiers can be conducted as long as the adjusted case rate is below 14 per 10,000 residents, which is the guideline for the red tier. Essentially, what the latest guidelines mean is that sports in the orange tier are effectively treated as if they were in the red tier with a few exceptions.
Q: Exceptions?
A: In addition to informed consent, which from a practical perspective, would be necessary under any circumstances, the main exception is that football, rugby and water polo teams are required to perform testing of players and coaches on a weekly basis. During the season, the test results must be made available within 24 hours of play.
This restriction would be lifted once cases fell below the adjusted case rate of 7 per 10,000, which coincides with the orange tier and therefore coincides with the initial guidelines. The state is forming a task force to provide testing free of charge to all high schools.
Q: Why was there a change in the guidelines?
A: Certainly, the falling coronavirus cases throughout the state was a significant factor, but a lot of credit belongs to a pair of advocacy groups who worked tirelessly to convince state government officials to modify the return-to-play guidelines. Three high school football coaches - Patrick Walsh (Serra-San Mateo), Justin Alumbaugh (De La Salle) and Ron Gladnick (Torrey Pines) - were instrumental through their group, the Golden Gate High School Football Coaches Community. Also a parent-led organization Let Them Play CA, founded by Brad Hensley, was a constant presence in discussions to get kids back on the field.
Q: What counties meet the 14 per 10,000 case threshold?
A: According to the latest numbers released by the Department of Health and Human Services, the following counties fall below 14 cases per 10,000 (in alphabetical order, with case rate in parentheses): Alameda (12.4), Amador (11.1), Butte (12.2), Calaveras (10.6), Del Norte (7.3), El Dorado (11.8), Humboldt (7.5), Imperial (11.9), Lassen (10.5), Marin (8.8), Mariposa (4.8), Modoc (4.5), Napa (10.7), Nevada (10.9), Placer (12.0), Plumas (3.8), San Francisco (7.9), San Luis Obispo (13.7), San Mateo (9.1), Santa Clara (10.1), Santa Cruz (10.4), Sierra (0), Siskiyou (12.0), Sonoma (13.9), Trinity (6.4), Tuolumne (11.7), Yolo (7.0).
The following counties are close to the 14 per 10,000 threshold: Contra Costa (15.3), Fresno (19.8), Glenn (18.0), Lake (16.5), Los Angeles (17.6), Madera (16.9), Mono (18.4), Orange (16.0), Sacramento (18.7), San Bernardino (19.0), San Diego (15.6), Shasta (14.4), Solano (15.5), Sutter (18.4), Tehama (19.9) and Yuba (19.3).
The remaining 15 counties have rates above 20.0 per 10,000.
Q: What about sports in the yellow tier?
A: Unfortunately, sports in the yellow tier have not received clearance to begin their season. This includes the following high school sports: volleyball, basketball and wrestling.
Q: So what happens with those sports?
A: As of right now, counties would need to get into the yellow tier – less than 1 case per 10,000 – in order to permit competition in these sports. That seems highly unlikely to occur for very many counties in California before the end of the school year, so advocates for those sports have already begun preparing to make the case that these sports can be contested safely. Technically, however, these sports are permitted outdoors, so that may wind up as the only avenue for competition this year.
Q: What is the requirement regarding face coverings?
A: Masks are recommended at all times, but only required when athletes and coaches are not in competition. That means that players and coaches must wear masks during practice and on the sidelines during the competitions.
Q: Are spectators going to be allowed?
A: Observers are to be limited to immediate household members and “for the strict purpose of age-appropriate supervision” during practice and competition. Of course, physical distancing should be practiced.
Q: What about additional county restrictions?
A: Throughout the pandemic, restrictions in general have bubbled down to the most local governing body. That means that local restrictions – all the way down to individual districts - can be even stricter. There has been no indication of that occurring as of yet, but representatives from Santa Clara County – which has had some of the most restrictive policies in the country – have indicated that they are reviewing the situation and should have additional guidance this week.
Q: Can kids play multiple sports?
A: Speaking of Santa Clara County, it is the only county to date that has overridden the guidelines specified by the California Interscholastic Federation with regard to participation on multiple teams simultaneously. Basically, the CIF has ruled that limiting student-athletes’ participation in one cohort is merely a CDPH recommendation, but Santa Clara County has declared that kids must stick to one cohort. That means that a student would not be allowed to play for both a high school team and any other cohort that meets in person, including sports and other extracurricular activities. How that would be enforced is unclear.
Q: What about playoffs?
A: In general, playoffs are being handled on a section-by-section basis. State playoffs have effectively been ruled out and in many cases, Season 1 sports have already had their playoffs cancelled. Furthermore, teams are restricted to competing against schools from their own county and adjacent counties. This would obviously restrict full-blown playoffs in most sections.
Some counties have begun making plans for special playoffs consisting of schools within the county borders, but one thing we can most likely conclude is that playoffs – even they take place – will likely look much different than usual.
With all of this said, things can still change as we approach the final few months of the school year. Hopefully, coronavirus cases will continue to fall and result in fewer – not more – restrictions going forward.
