By Marcus D. Smith–
In any other year, school would have been in session with the students returning to their respective campuses and practice in session for fall athletics preparing for the first game of the school year.
However, that is not the case with the abnormality of this year, which has been caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus epidemic that spread. Students are transitioning to an online model class for the first semester of school.
According to sources from Mesa Verde High School, the Mavericks are projected to begin football practice on Dec. 7 and are looking to invite more freshman players to the gridiron. This season they are expected to share a field with Casa Robles High School due to inclement field conditions in the winter time at the Mavericks’ Stadium.
For San Juan High School, there is still uncertainty from the Spartan camp on how they will accommodate other athletics. For now, they understand that their reality also is beginning fall sports in January 2021, while winter and spring sports will begin halfway through the next semester.
In response to the virus, The California Interscholastic Foundation released a statement agreeing to postpone fall sports until January 2021, pushing back the start of the highly anticipated football season and other athletics, in what the CIF classifies as a “modified season.”
In an excerpt, the CIF stated…
“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…It is anticipated that most Section start dates will commence in December 2020 or January 2021.”
Teams will be eligible to report for practice starting in December in preparation for the modified season that will debut in January for some sections whereas others could see the season starting as early as December.
This allows the summer period to be extended into the fall or until the start of the modified season in December. Thus making the season run into late March, while playoffs and sections will go into mid-April.
The CIF has made many accommodations for this peculiar situation, including temporary suspensions of Bylaws 600-605 for all sports during the 2020-21 school year only. This will allow student-athletes to participate in outside teams as well as their high school team.
The CIF has continued to ensure the safety and health of the students, staff, and faculty. School districts are encouraged to prioritize the well-being of all individuals.
They have been taking the necessary precautionary measures by following initial statements and guideline information released from the Governor’s Office, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health, and local county health departments and agencies.
Collectively board members are unifying to create the best option moving forward during the unprecedented time period.
This update comes after the CIF initially cancelled and postponed spring athletics due to the COVID-19 coronavirus ceasing an epidemic and eventually a countrywide shutdown of athletics and in-person learning in March.
There were fears that sports would not continue for the remainder of 2020, which turned out to be accurate. The last time there was athletic competition of any sort was in March during the early parts of the baseball season and other sports in full practice mode.
Five months later, the discussion for the continuance of athletics brought to the forefront and an outcome that most were hoping for.
In text messages with coaches at Mesa Verde High School and San Juan High School, discussion was made regarding how the kids miss being with the teams; the coaches, bored without sports.
Per discussions among other head coaches in the district, we have been told that the well-being of the student athletes could be jeopardized as the setback of COVID-19 has affected them physically and emotionally in a myriad of ways.
For San Juan Unified School District, particularly Mesa Verde and San Juan High School, their varsity football programs are slated to compete against each other on Jan. 29, 2020 for the Spartans Homecoming game. Although down the road, there are schedules released for the season.
