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Californians, high school sports are back.
It's been almost a year since COVID-19 turned normal life upside down for the entire globe, and during the long hours spent inside our homes we began to reflect on many of the simple things and normalities we took for granted. For highschool athletes, it was gameday. April 3, 2020 the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) announced a total cancellation of all springtime sports.
After months and months without play, student athletes rallied together across the entire state in order to campaign for the “Let us Play” movement. This campaign, coupled with a decreasing number of cases in the state, allowed for outdoor sports to return. In a press conference on February
26, 2021, Governor Newsom announced that indoor sports could return for countries in the purple and red tiers as long as the counties have a case rate at or below 14 per 100,000.
“We are now confident with new guidelines that we’re publishing today that we can get youth sports moving again in the state of California,” Governor Newsom said in his announcement regarding the reopening of High School Athletics.
This was a massive sigh of re
lief for student athletes; many of whom weren’t even sure the season would even happen this year.
"With CA lifting the ban on sports I'm very excited because now I get to compete and have a football season," senior Keirr Stewart said. "I was supposed to get a lot of college offers from big time schools but COVID-19 messed everything up. This is another opportunity to get myself back out there and get scouted."
For other Encinal athletes, causal competition is all they need.
“I’m really looking forward to sports starting back up again,” junior Olivia Brune said. “Being on a team and being able to see everyone is exciting.”
Currently, only baseball, softball, football, soccer, and track have been cleared to begin; something that may change as time progresses. However indoor sports have a tougher road ahead.
“Youth sports are important to our children’s physical and mental health, and our public health approach has worked to balance those benefits against COVID-19 risks,” said State public health officer Dr. Tomas Aragon. “With case rates and hospitalizations declining across California, we are allowing outdoor competition to resume, with modifications and steps to reduce risk, in counties where case rates are lower.”
Only time will tell how long high school athletics will last. Until then, play ball.
"I am excited to get back to work and play sports," said junior Chadd Edwards. "I am glad the ban is lifted and can't wait until the season starts."
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