CIF delays the start of school sports due to COVID-19

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KION)

UPDATE 7/21/2020 4 p.m. The California Interscholastic Federation's Central Coast section announced practice start dates for sports.

Water polo, volleyball, football, field hockey and cross country can start practices on Dec. 14.

Soccer and tennis can start practices on Feb. 22.

Basketball, baseball and softball can start practices on March 15.

Read more start and end dates here and find the conference and league alignment here.

PREVIOUS STORY: The California Interscholastic Federation announced Monday that school sports will be starting late this year.

In a statement, CIF said most will start in December 2020 or January 2021, depending on the section.

The organization said it will continue to follow guidance from officials and as they change, some sections may let sports resume under summer period rules.

Bylaws 600-605 for outside competition have also been temporarily suspended during the coming school year.

Read the statement below:

"The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has determined, in collaboration with our 10 Sections, that education-based athletics for the 2020-2021 school year will begin with a modified season of sport schedule (see below for 2020-21 sports calendar). Our calendar reflects the season for each CIF sport and the last date for Section Championships and Regional/State Championships in those sports where a Regional/State Championship is currently offered. Following this announcement, each CIF Section Office will release their own calendar to reflect regular season starting and ending dates and Section playoffs. It is anticipated that most Section start dates will commence in December 2020 or January 2021.

"We are continuously monitoring the directives and guidelines released from the Governor's Office, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health, and local county health departments and agencies as these directives and guidelines are followed by our member schools/school districts with student health and safety at the forefront. As these guidelines change, CIF Sections may allow for athletic activity to potentially resume under the summer period rules of the local Section. Also, given this calendar change, the CIF has temporarily suspended Bylaws 600-605 (Outside Competition) in all sports for the 2020-21 school year (see below for more specific information related to these changes)."

California Interscholastic Federation