By Evelyn Fu
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-21 sports seasons are being pushed back, according to the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). MHS Athletic Director Joanna Butcher sent out an email regarding information about the sports season on Jul. 30, and updates were sent in an email on Sept. 29.
Season One will start on Dec. 14, and Season Two sports will begin late-February to mid-March, according to the California Interscholastic Federation. Coaches have the option to begin workouts that are optional for students; however, these workouts will not affect tryouts, Butcher said in an email. Butcher added that to participate in off-season workouts, athletes must have a physical for this school year.
“MHS Athletes that currently have a physical on file in the MHS Athletic Office from the 2019-2020 school year will be allowed to participate in a summer workout,” Butcher said. “Transfer Students, incoming 9th grade students, and athletes new to the MHS Athletic program will need to submit their physical & concussion papers to room P-12.”
Athletes participating in Season One were to complete forms by Nov. 1 and turn them into the athletics office, according to the email from Butcher. Due to the shorter time frame, contests and practices will run during breaks, and Season Two sports may run after the end of the school year, Butcher added.
“Season 1 Sports will be practicing or participating in contests over all breaks: Winter Break, MLK Jr. [weekend], February Break. Season 2 sports will be practicing or participating in contests over Cesar Chavez weekend, Spring Break, AP Testing, Memorial Day weekend, graduation week, and potentially after the last day of school,” Butcher said in the email. “Some teams will be practicing by 6 AM before school or after 7 PM on school nights due to facility constraints and the amount of teams that are in season at one time.”
The Athletics Department is still discussing whether there will be a cap on the number of athletes able to participate in a sport, according to Butcher. Other details are still being decided: parent transportation for contests, practice times and locations, use of locker rooms, number of teams sponsored, multi-sport athletes/coaches, spectating, and tournaments.
