Story by Zoe Schlaak
Associate Sports Editor
Photo by Sophie Yeung
Staff Photographer
SPHS athletic department provided an update on season one and two competition and elaborated on policy changes and guidelines during a meeting with the Rio Hondo League.
All sports have returned to training and conditioning practice as of Monday, Feb. 22. They continue to train only outdoors with previous restrictions still in place. Season one cross country was able to attend the first league meet of the year, against La Canada, on Tuesday, Feb. 23.
The athletic department discussed the feasibility of season one competition at their meeting on Feb. 23,. They concluded that indoor sports, girls volleyball cannot not compete before the end of the season, March 20th. The league is exploring the option of opening competition outdoors for volleyball. Water polo and football are being delayed and could possibly be able to compete before the end of the season with the requirement of coronavirus testing on a weekly basis. Although there is potential for competition of season one sports, the Rio Hondo League and SPHS athletics department are continuing to discuss possible alternatives to play.
The district reiterated that athletes can only participate in one sport per season, due to the fact that season one and two training are currently overlapping. This causes problems for multi-sport athletes. The department came to the solution for multi-sport athletes that once season one finishes on Mar. 20, athletes are allowed to train in a season two sport. The department is still discussing policy changes that would allow for more variability between sports.
“I want to recognize the copious amounts of work that is required by our coaches, site administration and staff, district administration and staff, and our maintenance department. Everyone is working at all hours of the day and night to find ways to make it happen for our students,” Chan stated in an email. “Please understand that everything is constantly changing and we are doing our best to serve our community while adjusting to ever-changing policies.”
Athletics plans to continue training safely and new policies and options pertaining to league-wide competition are expected to be introduced in the future.
