How coronavirus is affecting high school sports in California (latest updates)

Here's how coronavirus is affecting high school athletics in Southern California.

Author:
Connor Morrissette, SBLive Sports
Publish date:
Mar 12, 2020 1:02 PM EDT

Here are the latest developments on how the coronavirus is affecting high school sports in California.

LAUSD SUSPENDS ATHLETICS INDEFINITELY

CIF CANCELS THE REMAINDER OF THE 2020 CIF STATE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The California Interscholastic Federation (“CIF”) has canceled all remaining CIF State Basketball Championship games, the governing body announced on Thursday. The released a statement which can be found below.

“Effective Immediately – The California Interscholastic Federation (“CIF”) has canceled all remaining CIF State Basketball Championship games. This includes regional finals scheduled for March 12, 2020, and the CIF State finals scheduled for March 13-14, 2020 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. This decision was made after careful deliberation and in the primary interest of protecting the health and safety of our member schools, fans, and most importantly, our student-athletes. While we understand this decision is disappointing, we strongly believe that the opportunity to compete in this event does not outweigh our obligation to place the health and safety of our member schools and school communities above all else.

We want to recognize the hard work and commitment our student-athletes have made to reach the State Basketball Championships. The impact of COVID-19 created many unexpected challenges during this year’s tournament season, and we want to thank everyone involved for their flexibility, patience, and commitment in providing our student-athletes a great experience despite this unique situation.

For those that have already purchased tickets for the March 13-14, 2020 games at Golden 1 Center, refunds will be made available at the original point of purchase. If tickets were purchased online via ticketmaster.com, refunds will be processed automatically.”

SOUTHERN SECTION WILL DEFER TO SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS ON NEXT STEPS

The CIF Southern Section will let schools and districts decide how they want to handle athletics. Schools and districts will make their own choices on whether to have athletic contests at all, allow fans at contests, or suspend athletics.

LAUSD SAYS NO MORE SPECTATORS AT ATHLETIC EVENTS

Los Angeles Unified School District has told its high school principals and athletic directors to not allow spectators at athletic events. That includes parents.

HARVARD-WESTLAKE MOVES CLASSES ONLINE, SUSPENDS ATHLETICS

In a message sent to the school community on Wednesday, Harvard-Westlake administrators announced that it would cancel classes on Thursday and Friday and begin online classes on Monday through Friday, March 27. Athletic competition will also be halted until further notice.

SIERRA CANYON MOVES CLASSES TO ONLINE, ATHLETICS TO CONTINUE

Sierra Canyon's campus is closed for the rest of this week and next week, but athletics will continue. The plan for right now is to resume school on campus following the Sierra Canyon spring break which goes from March 30 to April 12, per Tarek Fattal of the Daily News.

Las Virgenes Unified School Districtcancels athletic events through March 20th

This affects Calabasas and Agoura High Schools

The Pacific League cancels all games and practices from March 13 through April 13

Burroughs, Burbank, Pasadena, Crescenta Valley, Muir, Burbank, Arcadia, and Hoover make up the league

Mission League cancels all league athletic contents effective immediately through Saturday, March 28.

The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District suspends athletic competitions until April 19

LA Windward suspends all athletic events, contests, & gatherings

La Canada Unified School District bans spectators at athletic events

The Covina-Valley USD will still allow athletic contests, but will only allow family to attend

Anaheim Union High School District has cancelled all athletic events through April

Santa Ana Unified School District (Century, Godinez, Saddleback, Segerstrom, Santa Ana) ban spectators at events

SAUSD schools are banned from going to tournaments and invitationals, per Steve Fryer of the OC Register

Placentia-Yorba Unified suspends sports contests

Saddleback Valley Unified School District suspends sports and other activities until further notice

Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Huntington Beach Union High School District postpone athletic contests indefinitely

Garden Grove Unified School District won't play athletic contests until at least the end of the month

Orange Unified School District high schools (Canyon, El Modena, Orange, Villa Park) will have sports event with no spectators through at least April 6

Laguna Beach USD cancels athletic events until further notice

Irvine Unified School District will have sports event with no spectators

Corona-Norco USD cancels athletic events through the end of March

Val Verde Unified School District cancels all athletic events through the end of March

Morongo Unified School District postpones all athletic events through the end of the month

Murrieta Valley USD postpones athletic events through the end of the month