CIF Update On Return-To-Play Guidelines

Jeffrey Parenti


The CIF-Southern Section released updated return-to-play information on Wednesday morning as a follow-up to Monday evening's release from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) of new guidelines as the next step toward getting high school athletes back in the game.

Wednesday's release from the state's largest of 10 sections, included information from CIF-SS Commissioner Rob Wigod, a letter from CIF-State Executive Director Ron Nocetti, and slides that outlined specific return to play guidelines for each sport.

Wigod wrote that the CIF's recommendation for return-to-play to the CDPH was different than what was outlined in Monday's guidelines, specifically related to the state's color-tiered system, assigned per county based on its test positivity of the COVID-19 virus and adjusted case rate. Currently all but three of the state's 58 counties are in the most restrictive purple (widespread) tier. 

The CDPH guidelines evaluated each sport by low-, moderate- or high-contact as it relates to levels of risk of transmission of the virus, whether it was an indoor or outdoor sport, and assigned each to a colored tier. In the case of both cross country and track and field, a return to competition could be allowed in the purple tier (assuming other public health clearances) whereas sports like baseball and softball could only be allowed if the county was in the red (substantial spread) tier. Football, termed a high-contact sport, would only be possible if the county was in the orange (moderate spread) tier. High contact indoor sports like basketball and wrestling, were assigned to the yellow (minimal spread) tier. 

"It is important to note that what was recommended by our CIF Sports Medicine Advisory Committee is not what we see here," Wigod wrote regarding the CDPH guidelines. "We requested that all sports be conducted in the Red Tier and were hopeful that we would be allowed to proceed accordingly. While that is not the case today, I want to assure you that the dialogue will continue between the CIF and the (CDPH) to try and advocate for the return of education-based athletics as soon as that can happen in a healthy and safe way."

Wigod summarized several elements of the CDPH Guidelines: "No athletic competition permitted in California until Monday, January 25, 2021, practice within stable team cohorts, limitations on travel between counties, etc."

He reiterated key dates of Jan. 4 when the CDPH will reassess the Jan. 25 return-to-competition date, and Jan. 19 for a CIF-SS update on section championships. The state office had previously canceled state-level championships for fall sports as a way to provide scheduling flexibility at the section level.

"There is no doubt that we have significant challenges ahead of us," Wigod wrote. "We must try and overcome those challenges with every effort we can make in support of our student-athletes. It is too important to them for us to not do everything we can do on their behalf to keep their dreams alive. Now is not the time to lose hope and I know I can count on you to continue to fight for what we all believe in."