Notebook: California Health Department releases sports guidelines; departure at MC
While the California Interscholastic Federation postponed the start of the 2020-21 high school sports season until late December due to the coronavirus and several youth sports leagues canceled their summer seasons, the state’s Department of Public Health released specific guidelines on Monday that allow youth sports, including high school and club athletes, to practice.
County health officials still have the final say regarding allowing conditioning and practices.
Under the new guidelines, youth sports are allowed if a physical distance of at least six feet can be attained between participants.
For sports where physical distancing can’t happen, only physical conditioning and training are allowed. Training should also be held outside unless a county is allowing gyms and fitness centers to operate indoors.
Competitions and tournaments, even if teams are from the same school, are not permitted as well as adult, amateur (non-professional) team sports.
Two Modesto-area baseball players competing in Georgia: Big Valley Christian senior outfielder Cameron Butler and Turlock senior infielder and pitcher Dominic Rodriguez are competing in the 2020 Area Code Games showcase in Atlanta, Georgia.
The event, which has been held at Blair Field in Long Beach since 1995, moved to the LakePoint Baseball Complex this year due to the coronavirus.
Eight regional teams play in the five-day showcase, which begins Friday and athletes will have an opportunity to perform in front of scouts from all 30 MLB teams as well as NCAA coaches.
Players had to try out for the team earlier this year and Butler and Rodriguez are on the Oakland A’s roster.
Butler is committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Rodriguez to Fresno State.
News and Notes:
- Each year, the Modesto Nuts holds its “Hometown Heroes” promotion in August when they honor local community members for their outstanding work. The Nuts are partnering with Crystal Creamery and Sutter Health to recognize front line workers. A Hometown Hero can be nominated on the Nuts’ website and can be medical personnel, grocery store workers, truck drivers, and delivery drivers. Each hero will be recognized on social media and receive four tickets to a future Nuts game and be invited to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
- California High School Sports participation increased for the eighth straight year. There were 815,313 student-athletes competing in 2019-20, up by 0.16% from the previous year. Football was down 1.69% while girls basketball decreased by over 4%.
- Junior guard Oziyah Sellers has left Modesto Christian and transferred to Southern California Academy, a prep school in Santa Clarita.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
