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On March 4, indoor athletes in California scored a win when the courts settled a lawsuit brought by two football players in San Diego. The settlement allows for youth indoor sports to play as long as each county’s COVID case rate is less than 14 cases per 100,000 people.
Basketball, volleyball, badminton and wrestling are now allowed to start playing indoors as long they follow the same COVID guidelines as outdoor athletes. Most Encinal athletes were excited for the news.
“I’m feeling very excited that there's hope for men's volleyball getting a season this year because we had only gotten one game last year,” said senior volleyball player Lorenzo Verduzco-Ramirez. "It’s my Senior season as captain so hopefully all goes well."
Some players are ready to show up to practice when called upon.
“I feel really excited and I am ready for my coach to tell us when we are going to have our first practice,” said senior basketball player Sonia Randall.
But the excitement to play indoors is offset by some reluctance.
“I’m worried about keeping up with school and playing volleyball at the same time considering this school year's schedule of learning year long classes in a semester,” said junior Devin Hua, volleyball player. “But I’ll do my best.”
Safety is a priority for many coaches.
“I am excited to have a season and am happy for the opportunity for my players to get together,” said Encinal basketball coach Micahel Waller. “But I want to make sure we have a fully safe environment for players and coaches.”
Dr. Kevin Shea, the director of Sports Medicine at Stanford Children’s, does believe that indoor sports can be played safely.
“Outdoor sports (are safe) with maybe some constraints on what we do,” Shea said. “Indoor sports, I think we have to look carefully at them. You may have to limit the fans in the stands indoors.”
CIF and league officials met last week to discuss the logistics of high school athletics. It is doubtful that fans in the Bay Area will be able to attend sporting events.
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