CIF Cancels Fall Sports Playoffs

CIF announced Tuesday, Jan. 19 they were cancelling playoffs for all fall sports due to COVID-19 and to ensure the safety of many. 

In response to sports cancellations, parents, students, and community members held #LetThemPlayCA rallies across the state urging for high school sports to begin immediately.

At this time, Southern California counties are still in the state’s purple tier, indicating a widespread number of cases. 

“I am really upset at the cancellation, but I’m not really surprised given how this past year has gone and I understand why they cancelled. I’m a huge competitor and I really thought the cross country team and basketball team had a shot at winning this year so it’s definitely frustrating thinking on what could have been,” senior Jon Ward said.

Although CIF is cancelling playoffs, they are still planning on holding regular-season games. 

This does give athletes an opportunity to have a season even if the big championships have been cancelled. 

“I think it was a good idea that they cancelled it. Continuing the season might have put the kid’s and staff in danger,” sophomore Sophia Potter said.

Once the stay-at-home order is lifted, athletic programs would be able to compete in sports under the approval of the California Department of Public Health.

 Cross country, football, volleyball, and waterpolo are scheduled to begin playing sometime soon and end dates for the season will be in mid-April.

There has been talk of allowing a cross country championship, but it’s not practical to have multiple different counties all at the same location. 

Club teams are still continuing to practice and have been following their own regulations, playing in private facilities and club competitions taking place. 

Countering, CIF came out with a letter making it mandatory to abide by the county and state’s existing guidelines or they will suffer consequences. 

CIF is currently working on new guidelines to be released and hopefully get a season going within the next month.