School sports in California on hold until Department of Public Health releases updated guidance

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KION) Students around California will not be participating in full practice and competition for a while longer, according to the California Interscholastic Federation.

The state's Department of Public health has postponed issuing an updated version of its youth sports guidance due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, and the CIF said it does not anticipate that any guidance will be released until after the beginning of the new year.

Because of that, the organization made the decision to put start dates for full practice and competition on hold until the updated guidance is released.

To allow students to have a longer season once sports can resume, the CIF made the decision to cancel all Regional and State Championship events form the Season 1 sports calendar. Boys volleyball will also be moved to Season 2 so they do not lose a second full season. The updated calendar is expected to be posted in January.

"The CIF is confident this decision is a necessary and reasonable action for our member schools, student-athletes, and school communities in light of the current statewide crisis. This revision to the CIF State 2020-21 Season 1 Sports calendar offers our Sections and Leagues the flexibility and needed time to plan for the return to practice and competition once updated guidance is provided by the CDPH," the organization said in a news release Tuesday.