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A key decision was made Monday by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) to delay the high school sports season until December or January.
With a soaring increase in COVID-19 cases, football, girls’ volleyball, cross country, boys’ water polo, girls’ tennis will all be put on hold until the virus gets under control, say CIF officials in making the announcement.
A statement released by CIF, the governing body for high school sports, on Monday reads:
“The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has determined, in collaboration with our 10 Sections, that education-based athletics for the 2020-2021 school year will begin with a modified season of sport schedule. Our calendar reflects the season for each CIF sport and the last date for Section Championships and Regional/State Championships in those sports where a Regional/State Championship is currently offered. Following this announcement, each CIF Section Office will release their own calendar to reflect regular season starting and ending dates and Section playoffs. It is anticipated that most Section start dates will commence in December 2020 or January 2021.”
CIF is continuously monitoring the directives and guidelines released from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health, and local county health departments and agencies.
The 10 sections in the CIF, including Southern Section, which South Pasadena High participates in, will release their own schedules.
During these unusual times, it means that football games will extend into spring of 2021 with the final week slated for April 10. The last basketball games will extend to mid-June and baseball and softball championships, played concurrently, will be played near the end of June.
The CIF decision is in keeping with action taken by the governor last week. Like most high school campuses, South Pasadena High will open the fall semester in August with online distance-learning, mandated by the state.
