Questions entering a busy spring sports time in the Stanislaus District
It was just over a year ago when the California Interscholastic Federation canceled the rest of the spring sports season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sports were delayed until February when cross country, golf, and tennis returned and have since concluded their seasons.
With two weeks remaining in the football season, it’s time to take a look at how the spring sports season will look with as many as seven (yes, seven!) different sports happening at one time.
Here are some of the questions:
What sports are happening?
A lot.
With restrictions limited and the state allowing indoor sports, athletic directors and leagues have shuffled basketball, volleyball, and wrestling into the already busy spring sports season.
Along with those sports, baseball, soccer, softball, track and field, and water polo are all happening in various leagues.
The Southern League began baseball, softball, and volleyball games on March 15 while the Valley Oak League began baseball and softball games last week.
Other leagues including the Central California Athletic League will start in mid-April.
Who can play who?
Late Wednesday, the state released new guidelines that allowed teams to play any school in the state of California.
Previously, teams were only limited to play schools within their own county or in neighboring counties.
Before the new guidelines, schools were just playing its league opponents in most sports.
With most schools having their schedules done for all sports the rest of the school year, it will be interesting to see if schools take advantage of the new guidelines and schedule new opponents.
How many games can we play?
Most leagues are limiting each sport to eight weeks and the final date of competition allowed for each sport is June 12.
Every sport except for track and field and wrestling is allowed to have 28 games, according to the Sac-Joaquin Section.
Track and Field is allowed 14 contests while individual wrestlers can have 40 matches.
The county health department recently allowed baseball and softball teams to play doubleheaders and the CCAL has already announced schools will play league games on Saturday’s in addition to weekly series.
Can an athlete play multiple sports?
Yes. There is no rule that prevents an athlete from playing multiple sports but they are only allowed 18 hours of athletics-related events (games and practices) per week according to CIF guidelines.
The state’s health department recommends an athlete remain with one “cohort” or team but there is no rule mandating it.
Several athletes are competing with their school and club teams, which originally the CIF didn’t allow, but then reversed the decision in February.
Any schools having trouble fielding teams?
For the most part, no.
Most schools are fielding their respective teams and while some numbers are down due to some athletes trying different sports at the lower levels, there hasn’t been a dramatic change.
Testing and Indoor Sports?
Since San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties remain above the 7 cases per 100,000 adjusted case rate, football teams have to continue weekly testing.
Baseball and softball does not have to test but all indoor sports as well as soccer and water polo will have to abide by stricter guidelines than football.
All athletes and coaches will need to be tested within 48 hours of each competition.
Playoffs?
There won’t be any playoffs for any sports in the Sac-Joaquin Section. The CIF has scheduled Northern and Southern California regional championships for most sports but SJS schools would be ineligible.
This story was originally published April 7, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
