The California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section is considering offering fall, winter and spring sports in condensed seasons in the spring semester in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Southern California Newspaper Group local sports editor Fred Robledo.
“What I’m hearing from people familiar with CIF-SS back-up plans should there be no football in the fall, is NO sports through December. Back-up option would be FALL sports Jan-March; WINTER sports Feb-April and SPRING sports April-June. Everything would be shortened seasons,” Robledo tweeted in June.
That plan would mean that many high school student-athletes would be involved in sports for the majority – or entirety – of the semester if they play multiple sports.
Participating in both water polo and swimming, for example, is quite common in Southern California. In the section, men’s water polo is a fall sport, women’s is a winter sport, and coed swimming is a spring sport. Under condensed plan, then, it would be easier for a male athlete to participate in both sports compared to a female athlete.
While the CIF and CIF-SS have yet to release anything official, CIF-SS Commissioner Rob Wigod released a statement signaling the intent to host sports from all three seasons.
“It is evident to me that the clear and consistent message from all our stakeholders is a desire for us to deliver Fall, Winter and Spring sports this upcoming school year,” Wigod wrote. “For that to take place, it will require vision, creativity, flexibility, teamwork and unwavering commitment from all involved to answer this call this call to leadership.”
Rob Wigod released an update through CIF-SS, and interesting part was noting that plan is still to have a fall, winter and spring season .. pic.twitter.com/ggghmp0o1n
— Fred J. Robledo 👨🏻💻 (@SGVNSports) July 2, 2020
Allegedly, the CIF will be releasing their plan July 20th. Not looking good here in CA, as cases soar, so doubting that high school sports will happen at all in the fall. Did hear one option that is being considered is flipping Water Polo and Swim seasons, as Swim would be easier to pull off with social distancing, etc. and potentially okay for fall. But that was a month ago when the state was reopening. Sadly, now it’s re-closing.
At least the kids are able to get back in the water through camps. Don’t know how that will continue in the fall though.