PRESS RELEASE: CIF Statement Regarding Education-Based Athletics for 2020-21 School Year

December 1, 2020

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — Due to the continued surge in COVID-19 infections, the
California Department of Public Health has postponed the issuance of its updated youth
sports guidance. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) does not expect the
CDPH will issue any guidance allowing for schools to return to full practice and
competition until after January 1, 2021, at the earliest. Thus, all full practice and
competition start dates are officially on hold until updated guidance is issued.

Therefore, to provide the 10 CIF Sections, our 1,605 member schools, and more than
800,000 student-athletes the best opportunity to compete in Season 1 Sports, once
allowed by the CDPH and local county offices of public health, the CIF State Office is
removing all Regional and State Championship events from the Season 1 Sports calendar.
By canceling Regional and State Championship events, more student-athletes will have
the opportunity to participate in a longer season, rather than a truncated season with
Regional and State post-season play for a limited number of schools.
Additionally, boys volleyball will be moved to Season 2 to avoid the loss of a second full
season, and an updated Season 2 calendar to include boys volleyball will be posted in
January.

The CIF is confident this decision is a necessary and reasonable action for our member
schools, student-athletes, and school communities in light of the current statewide crisis.
This revision to the CIF State 2020-21 Season 1 Sports calendar offers our Sections and
Leagues the flexibility and needed time to plan for the return to practice and competition
once updated guidance is provided by the CDPH.

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