The playoffs are returning in the CIF Southern Section.
The largest section in the state announced Monday, April 12 that it will hold postseason team championships this spring for the Season 2 sports of baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, boys volleyball, lacrosse, tennis and dual-meet wrestling, and is “actively working” with health officials for approval to hold individual playoffs in other sports.
“That’s great,” Los Alamitos High softball coach Rob Weil said. “Honestly, it’s about time. These kids need to be on the field, interacting, doing what they do for some of type of mental health (benefit).”
CIF Southern Section commissioner Rob Wigod stated his section is seeking to hold individual championships in track and field, swimming, golf and tennis but will not hold individual championships in wrestling because of health restrictions.
The playoffs are scheduled to return in May after the pandemic forced the cancellation of the state basketball and spring championships last spring and the Season 1 playoffs earlier this school year.
“We’re going to hand (championship) plaques out again,” Wigod said during a press conference. “We’re going to see those smiles. We’re going to see those dogpiles. We’re going to see everyone jumping up and down and celebrating. All the things we’ve missed.”
The Season 2 sports that missed out on the playoffs last spring were baseball, softball, track and field, swimming and diving, boys volleyball, lacrosse, boys tennis and boys golf.
Monday’s announcement arrived following improved health conditions throughout the state the last several weeks. The number of coronavirus cases has dramatically declined while the distribution of the vaccine has widely increased.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) also made a key adjustment last week to its guidelines for youth sports, allowing teams to travel throughout the state for “inter-team competitions” or games between two teams.
Teams were previously limited to compete within their county or in a bordering county.
The adjustment was critical because the Southern Section includes approximately 560 schools from eight different counties, including Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside. The section will proceed by hosting team playoffs at home sites, using the same qualifying criteria and divisions as in the past.
“It’s just exciting for the kids, especially after all they’ve lost,” Orange Lutheran baseball coach Eric Borba said. “This is what you want, to compete and find a true champion.”
The CDPH guidelines still prohibit “tournaments or events” involving more than two teams, which presents an obstacle for holding an individual wrestling tournament or multi championship games at one site. But the CDPH allows for exceptions, “with authorization from the local health department where the event is being held and each of the local health departments where teams originate from,” in the sports of track and field, swimming and diving, golf and tennis.
The Southern Section stated that it is working on “securing approval from various county health departments” to hold postseason championships in track and field, swimming and diving, golf and tennis.
“We’ve already been in contact with various sites that we’re trying to line up … (and are) already working with some county health departments,” said Wigod, who mentioned that swimming and diving would not be held at its regular site of Riverside City College.
The L.A. City Section has maintained it will host team playoffs for Season 2 but the status of indoor basketball and wrestling are “to be determined”, Commissioner Vicky Lagos said. The Los Angeles Unified School District hasn’t approved indoor competition.
The Southern Section stated more details about playoff dates, locations and spectators will be “coming soon.” Wigod believes streaming options will be in place for fans not able to attend games. He also emphasized the importance of being flexible about games being played later in the calendar or the potential of games being canceled due to a positive COVID-19 test.
“I want to commend our student-athletes first for hanging in there,” he said. “All we wanted was a chance … and we have it. Are there going to be bumps? Yes. Are we maybe going to have some issues where we have games compromised due to what we’re dealing with, which is a global pandemic? Yes. But I guess I will quote (singer) Bruno Mars, ‘Don’t believe me. Just watch.’ “
Staff writers Steve Fryer and Tarek Fattal contributed to this report.
