The William S. Hart Union High School District released updated guidance for high school athletics in the Santa Clarita Valley on Tuesday, announcing that practices and competition for most outdoor sports can resume “immediately” thanks to decreased COVID-19 case rates in Los Angeles County.
After receiving athletic protocol updates from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Los Angeles Department of Public Health (LADPH) and California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the Hart District has put together a complete athletic program following all state and county guidelines.
This allows most outdoor sports to begin regular practices and competitions immediately, according to Dave Caldwell, spokesman for the district.
“We are very pleased that many of our student-athletes, who have been conditioning only for some time, will have the opportunity to practice and compete in their respective sports,” said Dr. Michael Vierra, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources at the Hart District.
As of Tuesday, Los Angeles County remains in the most restrictive purple tier in the State’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. In order to move into the red tier and have additional opportunities for re-openings, L.A. County’s daily case rate must be at or below 7 new cases per 100,000 people and the County’s test positivity rate must be at or below 8%, according to the Blueprint.
See Related: L.A. County ‘Very Close’ To Moving To Red Tier As COVID-19 Case Rate Drops
As of March 2, L.A. County’s adjusted case rate is 7.2 new cases per 100,000 people, and with a test positivity rate of 3.5%, just above the threshold to move to the red tier, according to LADPH officials.
“We are also very thankful to all the coaches, trainers, administrators, and other athletic staff who have put a program together so quickly for our students after the recent announcements from the California and Los Angeles Departments of Public Health,” Vierra said. “We also would like to thank our great partners at Henry Mayo who once again have stepped up to support our students and staff by working with us to put together a COVID-19 testing program that is currently required for football.”
Highlights include:
- Outdoor sports (including those in tiers other than the current L.A. County Purple Tier) can begin to practice and schedule competitions with many health and safety protocols in place.
- Football requires weekly testing until the adjusted case rate falls below 7 per 100,000
- Face coverings must be worn as much as possible
- Physical distancing as much as possible
- Observers are limited to household members only (2 members per athlete at Foothill League competitions)
- Competitions are between two teams only
- Sport-specific hygiene and sanitation protocols are in place
- Travel limitations
- Indoor activities are prohibited
The District has partnered with Henry Mayo Newhall and arranged a weekly COVID-19 testing protocol, as required for football only
- Season 1 Sports for Hart District Schools
- Football
- Five game league schedule for each school
- First football games are the weekend of March 18-20
- Season concludes April 17
- Five game league schedule for each school
- Football
- Cross Country
- One dual meet per team
- Dual meets are Friday, March 5th and Saturday, March 6th at Central Park
- Girls Volleyball
- Prohibited until Yellow Tier
- Season 2 Sports
- Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
- Beginning March 1st
- Participating in full league schedules and playoff opportunities
- Boys Volleyball
- Prohibited until Yellow Tier
- Boys and Girls Basketball
- Prohibited until Yellow Tier
- Baseball, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Track and Field
See All Coronavirus Coverage: Coronavirus Coverage – COVID-19 Map
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