High School Fall Sports To Be Delayed Until Winter
Jul 21, 2020 08:58AM ● By Jeanne Fratello
Mira Costa High School fields, courts, and pools will look empty this fall, as the California Interscholastic Federation has officially pushed all high school fall sports back until at least December.
The CIF's Southern Section, which governs Southern California schools including Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, has announced a new condensed schedule that will create two sports seasons rather than three.
Under the proposed new calendar, fall sports will begin at the end of December or early January, and last through mid-March. Spring sports will begin in mid-March and last through June.
Football, for example, would begin practice on December 14, with the first game to be held on Friday, January 8.
"In examining the most effective way to deliver fall, winter and spring sports for the 2020-2021 school year, the decision was made to condense three seasons of sport into two seasons of sport, primarily to help with the spacing between particular sports and the overlap of certain sports between seasons," wrote CIF Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod in a letter to principals and athletic directors.
Wigod noted that regular seasons already varied from sport to sport in terms of how long they were.
"We believe that to help with the overlap of seasons, affecting student-athletes, coaches and facilities, we would standardize the length of the regular seasons to approximately 72 days, for those who previously had more days than that, while leaving the others with less than 72 days alone," said Wigod. "The total number of days in some sports will be reduced, approximately 5%-12%, but schools can still play the same number of maximum allowable contests, if they choose, in that smaller window."
Wigod added that as schools open and students return, provided state and local health authorities deem it safe to do so, schools can begin their pre-season preparations as they see fit, depending on what is allowed by health authorities during that time period.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures and there is no doubt that is where we are right now," he said.
Wigod added one final thought during a press conference: "It will be vitally important that we adults do everything we can to come through for our student athletes and show them a unified front going forward. Our student athletes have had enough negativity over the last few months and they are looking to us to bring them some positive news for the future. We have done that for them today, and the last thing they need going forward will be negative reactions and responses from adults who will take the optimism that they have - and they are so looking forward to - away from them. This is when we show them that we can get the job done, no matter what struggles we will all have to endure to make it all happen. what an opportunity we now have to teach them that we can do this, and we can do it together, whatever it takes."
All schedules would be subject to changes made by individual schools based on availability of fields and courts and other factors. In some cases schools would have to make adjustments, such as when a coach normally coaches two different teams that are now scheduled at the same time.
The announcement comes at the same time as when most schools in the region, including Manhattan Beach schools, are likely facing a return to distance learning in the fall.
Proposed 2020/2021 Sports Schedule
The proposed 2020/2021 sports schedule (subject to revisions) would be as follows, according to the CIF Southern Section:
FALL SPORTS
BOYS AND GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY
First Contest – Saturday, December 26, 2020
SOP (Sit-Out Period, required for students transferring from another school without a valid change of residence; typically halfway through the season) Date – Friday, January 29, 2021 (35 days)
Last League Contest – Thursday, March 4, 2021 (70 days)
Last Allowable Contest – Friday, March 5, 2021
CIF Southern Section Prelims – Friday/Saturday, March 12/13, 2021
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, March 20, 2021
CIF State Championships – Saturday, March 27, 2021
FIELD HOCKEY
First Contest – Friday, December 18, 2020
SOP Date – Friday, January 22, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Friday, February 26, 2021 (71 days)
Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 27, 2021
11-MAN FOOTBALL
First Practice Date - Monday, December 14, 2020
Week 1 Contest Date – Friday, January 8, 2021
SOP Date – Monday, February 8, 2021 (32 days)
Week 10 Contest Date – Friday, March 12, 2021 (64 days)
CIF Southern Section Playoffs - March 19, March 26, April 2, 2021
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, April 9/10, 2021
CIF State Championships Bowl Games – Friday/Saturday, April 16/17, 2021
TRADITIONAL COMPETITIVE CHEER
First Contest Date – No Established Date
SOP Date – Monday, November 16, 2020
Last Allowable Contest Date – No Established Date
CIF Southern Section Championships – Saturday, April 3, 2021
CIF Southern Regional Championships – Saturday, April 17, 2021
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
First Contest Date – Saturday, December 12, 2020
SOP Date – Tuesday, January 12, 2021 (32 days)
Last League Contest – Thursday, February 11, 2021
Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 13, 2021 (64 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, March 6, 2021
CIF Southern Regionals – March 15-20, 2021
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
First Contest Date – Saturday, December 19, 2020
SOP Date – Tuesday, January 19, 2021 (32 days)
Last League Contest –Thursday, February 18, 2021
Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 20, 2021 (64 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, March 12/13, 2021
CIF State Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, March 19/20, 2021
BOYS WATER POLO
First Contest Date – Monday, December21, 2020
SOP Date – Monday, January 11, 2021 (31 days)
Last League Contest – Thursday, February 18, 2021
Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 20, 2021 (62 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, March 6, 2021
CIF Southern Regional Finals – Friday/Saturday, March 19/20, 2021
GIRLS WATER POLO
First Contest Date – Monday, December 28, 2020
SOP Date – Monday, January 18, 2021 (31 days)
Last League Contest –Thursday, February25, 2021
Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, February 27, 2021 (62 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, March 13, 2021
CIF Southern Regional Finals – Friday/Saturday, March19/20, 2021
SPRING SPORTS
BADMINTON
First Contest Date – Saturday, March 6, 2021
SOP Date – Saturday, April 10, 2021 (36 days)
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 15, 2021 (71 days)
CIF Southern Regional Individual Qualifier – Wednesday/Thursday, May 26/27, 2021
CIF Southern Regional Championships – Saturday, May 29, 2021
BASEBALL
First Contest Date – Friday, March 19,2021
SOP Date – Friday, April 23, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest - Friday, May28, 2021
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 29, 2021 (72 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, June 18/19, 2021
CIF Southern Regional Championship Finals – Saturday, June 26, 2021
BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL
First Contest Date – Friday, March 12, 2021
SOP Date – Friday, April 16, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Friday, May 21, 2021
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 22, 2021 (72 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, June11/12, 2021
CIF State Championship Finals – Friday/ Saturday, June18/19, 2021
COMPETITIVE SPORT CHEER
First Contest Date – Saturday, March 27, 2021
SOP Date – Monday, May 1, 2020 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Saturday, June 5, 2021 (71 days)
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, June 5, 2021
BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF
First Contest Date – Saturday, March 20, 2021
SOP Date – Saturday, April 24, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Friday, May 28, 2021
Last Allowable Contest –Saturday, May 29, 2021 (71 days)
CIF Southern Section Individual Regionals – Monday, May 31, 2021
CIF Southern Section Team Championships – Monday, June 7, 2021
CIF-SS Individual Championship/Team Qualifier – Thursday,June 10, 2021
CIF/SCGA Southern Regional Championships - Thursday, June 17, 2021
CIF State Championships – Wednesday, June 23, 2021
(Note –CIF-SS Individual Championship/Team Qualifier, CIF/SCGA Regional Championships and CIF State Championships dates are subject to change, due to course availability.)
BOYS AND GIRLS LACROSSE
First Contest Date – Friday, March 12, 2021
SOP Date – Friday, April 16, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest –Thursday, May20, 2021
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 22, 2021 (72 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Saturday, June 12, 2021
BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER
First Contest Date – Saturday, February 27, 2021
SOP Date – Saturday, April 3, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Thursday, May 6, 2021
Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, May 8, 2021 (71 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, May28/May 29, 2021
CIF Southern Regional Finals – Saturday, June 5, 2021
SOFTBALL
First Contest Date – Friday, March 19, 2021
SOP Date – Friday, April 23, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Thursday, May 27, 2021
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 29, 2021 (72 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday/Saturday, June 18/19, 2021
CIF Southern Regional Championship Finals – Saturday, June 26, 2021
BOYS AND GIRLS SWIMMING/ DIVING
First Contest Date – Saturday, March 13, 2021
SOP Date – Saturday, April 17, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Friday, May 21, 2021
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 22, 2021 (71 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Monday, May 24–Saturday, May 29, 2021
CIF State Championships – Friday/ Saturday, June 4/5, 2021
BOYS TEAM TENNIS
First Contest Date – Monday, March 1, 2021
SOP Date – Monday, April 5, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Friday, May 14, 2021
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 15, 2021 (71 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday, May 28, 2021
CIF Southern Regional Championships – Saturday, June 5, 2021
GIRLS TEAM TENNIS
First Contest Date – Monday, February 22, 2021
SOP Date – Monday, March 29, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Friday, May 7, 2021
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 8, 2021 (71 days)
CIF Southern Section Championship Finals – Friday, May 21, 2021
CIF Southern Regional Championships – Saturday, June 5, 2021
BOYS AND GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
First Contest Date – Saturday, March 20, 2021
SOP Date – Saturday, April 24, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest – Friday, May 28, 2021
Last Allowable Contest Date – Saturday, May 29, 2021 (72 days)
CIF Southern Section Preliminaries – Saturday, June 5, 2021
CIF Southern Section Divisional Championships – Saturday, June 12, 2021
CIF Southern Section Masters Meet – Saturday, June 19, 2021
CIF State Championships – Friday/ Saturday, June 25/26, 2021
BOYS AND GIRLS WRESTLING
First Contest Date – Friday, March 5, 2021
SOP Date – Friday, April 9, 2021 (36 days)
Last League Contest –Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Last Allowable Contest – Saturday, May 15, 2021 (72 days)
CIF Southern Section Dual Meet Championships – Saturday, May 15, 2021
CIF Southern Section Individual Championships – Friday/Saturday, May 28/29, 2021
CIF Southern Section Masters Meet – Friday/Saturday, June 4/5, 2021
CIF State Championships – Thursday, June 10, 2021–Saturday, June12, 2021
