PUHSD allows return to athletic conditioning; CIF office adds requirement that athletes wear masks in competition

By Doug Spoon, Editor

Although all high school sports seasons remain on hold because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Perris Union High School District this week announced it will allow teams to resume conditioning workouts Feb. 1.

Friday’s announcement on the PUHSD Facebook page will allow athletes at Paloma Valley and Heritage high schools to work out together in hopes that practice and competition will begin soon. State guidelines require that the stay-at-home order must be lifted first, however, and with COVID-19 rates continuing to peak, the status of actual competition remains in doubt.

Meanwhile, a CIF State news release on Friday regarding the latest COVID-19 restrictions included this requirement for most sports: “Masks should be worn at all times by all individuals participating in the activity, even with heavy exertion as tolerated.”

This extreme safety measure applies to athletes participating in badminton, baseball, basketball, competitive cheer, field hockey, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball and wrestling. The only sports to which the mask requirement doesn’t apply are cross country, track, swimming, and water polo.

As Menifee 24/7 reported in a news article on Thursday, the CIF Southern Section this week cancelled the fall sports playoffs. Commissioner Rob Wigod said he hoped this would allow teams time to have a sufficient regular season before late March and early April – the latest possible end dates for fall sports. The news release acknowledged, however, that only cross country could be contested while in the purple tier, and then only if the stay-at-home order was removed.

Athletic directors at Paloma Valley and Heritage high schools did not return messages from Menifee 24/7 seeking comment on Thursday. On Friday, PUHSD made the following announcement on its Facebook page:

“On Dec. 6, Governor Gavin Newsom implemented a ‘Stay Home Order’ for the Southern California region due to the ICU capacity falling below 15 percent. At that time, out of an abundance of caution, the Perris Union High School District put all athletic conditioning and workouts on hold.

“As we start the second semester, we are re-evaluating all programs, including athletics. After careful consideration and reviewing all available information, we will allow coaches to restart the conditioning program at each school site on Feb. 1, 2021. The same procedures will be in place as were used during the first semester. We will continue to evaluate the situation and, as always, keep the health and safety of our students and staff at the forefront of all we do.”

As determined by district officials when conditioning workouts began on Oct. 1, athletes were to work out in small groups of 10 while practicing social distancing. No balls or equipment would be used, and activity would be limited to exercises such as running and pushups in the first phase.