CIF's conundrum

[colhenrylives]

All of the latest virus-related signs for resuming high school athletics are poor. Let's take CCS as an example. There, Santa Clara County has instituted a mandatory 21-day ban on any and all contact sports at all levels, including preps. That ban will until at least Dec. 21.

Then comes Christmas, followed quickly by New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. That's a virus-spreading trifecta just waiting to happen. So, we can anticipate an extension of the current county lockdown. It would be reasonable to assume that this shutdown will last until at least mid-February, to ensure a significant tamping down of the disease. That also assumes an effective vaccine made available to teachers and coaches, especially older ones, in January.

All that said, CCS (with an agreement from CIF) could wind up with two shortened sports seasons (March-April and May-June _ or something quite similar). If that arrangement occurs, CCS would limit games to league play only, with no section playoffs at all _ seven- or eight-game seasons for football and 14-16-game seasons for basketball, volleyball, baseball, softball, etc.).

There probably would be considerable grumbling. But something is better than nothing. CIF is going to have consider allowing each section to adjust its sports schedule to suit the impact of the virus in its own particular area. One size cannot fit all in a state this size at this point. The massive Southern Section, for example, contains more schools than all of Northern California's sections combined while the minuscule Oakland section has fewer than 12. As for state playoffs, they probably can't happen in 2020-21. There isn't enough time on the constricted sports calendar.

For good or ill, Santa Clara County may have done all of us a favor by providing a strong hint of what's coming down the pike for other counties and sections, and soon. Furthermore, it may get to the point where each county within a CIF section may be given the go-ahead to do its own thing (with local guidelines) to allow for some games to proceed. It's just the nature of the illness and its varying spread _ and the coming availability and timing of an effective vaccine. Chaotic times require some forward thinking _ now.

Addendum: This post was penned prior to the CIF's Twitter announcement this afternoon.

 

[Run TMC]

Here we go........................I wonder what would have happened if CA had started a slightly abbreviated schedule of fall sports in August, like some 29 other states, what could've (should have) been accomplished. To think that starting a sports season in peak flu season (see January) during a pandemic, is favorable to an August start, is an interesting take by the leaders of this state. Then again..........I am fairly confident that what is best for our children isn't a topic of discussion during a nine course meal at the French Laundry.

 

[shcguy92]

CIF just released a statement that all sports are “on hold” for the 2020-2021 until further notice. Meaning the start date is once again pushed back until the state seems the leagues can move forward.

Santa Clara County recent order is supposedly going to be followed by more counties in the coming days however no announcement has been made by any county other than Santa Clara at this point

 

[PortCityCoach]

CIF just released a statement that all sports are “on hold” for the 2020-2021 until further notice. Meaning the start date is once again pushed back until the state seems the leagues can move forward.

Santa Clara County recent order is supposedly going to be followed by more counties in the coming days however no announcement has been made by any county other than Santa Clara at this point

It also looks like CIF is removing all Regional and State championship events knowing that the seasons are going to be shortened - at least for Season 1 events (what would have been fall sports).

 

[colhenrylives]

We will say it again: In a state this large and diverse, one size cannot fit all when it comes to prep athletics. The idea that CIF can issue mandates governing every section, every county, every league in the state is absurd, given the unprecedented circumstances in each of them. We are at the point where CIF should allow each section to handle its own situation _ and that may well includes each county in each section as well. As for state playoffs, probably not.

On further review, it appears that CIF is heading in the direction of no state playoffs. Wise move. Give the sections (counties) more flexibility.

 

[Streak One]

I took this as bad news at first and while I still think it is for prep sports this year, I have seen reactions from others that this gives hope for some sort of a season later. This is true and there remains some flexibility for a prep sports schedule, which is better than a complete cancellation.

 

[shcguy92]

It also looks like CIF is removing all Regional and State championship events knowing that the seasons are going to be shortened - at least for Season 1 events (what would have been fall sports).

CIF is being flexible in letting counties play some role in determining sports dates however most sections actually comprise of multiple counties snd therefore there may be conflict.

As colhenry pointed out in me size does not fit all however the only common thread through all of these counties is CIF as most sections comprise of multiple counties. For example, CCS is comprised of Santa Clara, Monterey, San Mateo, and San Francisco Counties. NCS is Marin, Contra Costa, San Francisco and parts of Sonoma County. So in each section you have various counties with differing rules so colhenry unfortunately when it comes to the CIF, one size does need to fit all where sections are concerned. I mean you do have certain sections like SF and Oakland which are contained sections within one county but that is few and far between when it comes to Determining when and if sports will be played.

It has been reported that data shows school openings as not being the hotbed of infection as originally planned however that data is primarily K-8 and did not include high schools. Many high schools have either gone back or have plans to be back after the Christmas Holiday break at this point. Few have decided the entire year distance learning so come January we will see what happens but like Clay K alluded to on other boards, if we see Sports it will likely be the Spring Sports because they missed out during the 2019-2020 school year

 

[northbayfb]

I took this as bad news at first and while I still think it is for prep sports this year, I have seen reactions from others that this gives hope for some sort of a season later. This is true and there remains some flexibility for a prep sports schedule, which is better than a complete cancellation.

The reality is that it is bad news. The state still hasn't released the guidelines to play youth sports which have been drafted for over two weeks now and pushed back the start practice date by at least 24 days. So even if you start January 1st, you still have no ability to plan for the guidelines. Will there be additional costs associated with the guidelines? 98% chance its a yes. Will it take time for each individual school to implement the changes specific to its school makeup? Yes. Each Section? Yes. How long will it take? 30 days? It's taken the State seven months to draft guidelines. With this announcement you have lost 4 games from the season and every day that goes by without the guidelines being released pushes the actual start date back further. Doesn't matter that cases are currently spiking, release the guidelines and be prepared for when things subside.

 

[northbayfb]

CIF is being flexible in letting counties play some role in determining sports dates however most sections actually comprise of multiple counties snd therefore there may be conflict.

NCS is Marin, Contra Costa, San Francisco and parts of Sonoma County.

Curious what parts of Sonoma aren't in the NCS? Also includes Alameda, Napa, Mendocino, Humboldt, Lake and Del Norte counties.

It won't be one size fits all. If the state releases youth sports it will be county by county within each section. If your county can't play, it's most likely they will move forward without you. The NCS had already agreed to let the northernmost schools play in Fall had their counties not fallen in to the purple.

 

[kiddman32]

A whole lot of this depends upon the arrival of vaccines. Pfizer says they'll be starting to ship as soon as mid-December and one other firm says it's not far behind that. And there are a few other huge firms in the hunt, too. But distributing all these vaccines is a gigantic task that'll take a number of months.

Here's the most comprehensive article that I've seen: https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/30/health/covid-vaccine-questions-when/index.html

It also discusses the types of vaccines in the works and other questions on the subject.

 

[Streak One]

The reality is that it is bad news. The state still hasn't released the guidelines to play youth sports which have been drafted for over two weeks now and pushed back the start practice date by at least 24 days. So even if you start January 1st, you still have no ability to plan for the guidelines. Will there be additional costs associated with the guidelines? 98% chance its a yes. Will it take time for each individual school to implement the changes specific to its school makeup? Yes. Each Section? Yes. How long will it take? 30 days? It's taken the State seven months to draft guidelines. With this announcement you have lost 4 games from the season and every day that goes by without the guidelines being released pushes the actual start date back further. Doesn't matter that cases are currently spiking, release the guidelines and be prepared for when things subside.

I completely agree on the guidelines. There isn’t a viable reason why they can’t be released so people can prepare

 

[Santa Ball]

The reality is that it is bad news. The state still hasn't released the guidelines to play youth sports which have been drafted for over two weeks now and pushed back the start practice date by at least 24 days. So even if you start January 1st, you still have no ability to plan for the guidelines. Will there be additional costs associated with the guidelines? 98% chance its a yes. Will it take time for each individual school to implement the changes specific to its school makeup? Yes. Each Section? Yes. How long will it take? 30 days? It's taken the State seven months to draft guidelines. With this announcement you have lost 4 games from the season and every day that goes by without the guidelines being released pushes the actual start date back further. Doesn't matter that cases are currently spiking, release the guidelines and be prepared for when things subside.

Northbayfb, great take as I couldn’t agree more. It’s time to release the guidelines. Honestly why not, even if they have add “subject to modification” at nauseam.

A little transparency here on the states part might keep the moon landing conspirators, like myself in the shallow end of reason. Not to mention the kids, parents, coaches and admin that need to prepare or find other positive endeavors.

 

[NorCalSportsFan]

If the state keeps it up there won't be much left. HP moving headquarters to Texas and SF rents down 25% with huge inventory of rentals. The fatality rates are declining because hospitals have gotten much better at treating more severe cases unless you are elderly and have underlying condition How. HSs and preps sports are being treated is just an example of the idiotic policy that will turn out delivering a worse outcome than the result of the pandemic. Suicide numbers of teens have gone up and will exceed those that the pandemic takes and large percentages of kids are not receiving any education because they are not attending these distance learning or can't learn that way. This state has an issue with teacher's unions that need to get back to teaching with exception of teachers that are in the high risk category which can be managed by allowing some distance learning at the classroom. They are just as important as food shopping. Some kids lives are being destroyed especially those that are less fortunate and high risk. Even CDC and the science recommend that students be back in class. Our civil liberties are being walked on and what is more disturbing is people are allowing it in my opinion. 10pm curfew is another example of the abuse of civil rights. There is no practical logic other than government control of the masses and abuse of civil rights. It isn't even enforceable. I know this is high school sports but how this is being treated is symptom of government gone too far. Cancelling pro and college sports in the county also makes zero sense. Niners will just move their operation out of the county and have games away. All this while our government officials don't follow the rules or guidelines they put in place.

 

[salgovernaleisaturtle]

there are no guidelines released, because if they did release them, it would say, we aren't doing sports. they are leaving room for the possibility of positive changes.

 

[colhenrylives]

Today's lockdown announcement by the governor, a new three-week quarantine order (if not longer), is one more delay in the CIF's hopeful calendar.