Anyone hoping for an update on the return of California high school sports was left wanting on Monday as the state’s Department of Public Health did not provide further guidance on a potential return to competition. Per the CDPH’s previous announcement on December 14, the earliest date for high school athletics to resume competition would be January 25, 2021.
“This date will be reassessed by January 4, 2021, based on California disease transmission trends and is subject to change at any time given the level of COVID-19 and ICU capacity in California,” read the December 14 statement from the CDPH.
When asked on Monday for an update regarding the planned reassessment on the return to competition, the CDPH stated, “Youth sports competitions between different teams have been prohibited statewide since March. Such competitions will not be allowed in California until January 25, 2021, at the earliest.”
CIF-Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod is scheduled to provide an update on January 19, which will specifically relate to postseason competition for fall sports. The CIF-SS confirmed that they were expecting to receive new guidelines, but had not received them as of Monday evening.
If the January 25 date holds and CIF competition is allowed to begin on that date, there are a number of sports that are permitted to compete in the current, widespread “purple” tier of COVID-19 transmission. Those outdoor, low-contact sports include cross country, golf, tennis, track and field, and others.
