Prep sports still on track for December start

DOWNEY — The California Interscholastic Federation (C.I.F.) is proceeding with their proposed July schedule and fall sports teams will resume respective practice schedules in early December. 

Winter and spring sports begin their respective seasons once fall sports conclude in late March and early April.

Boys’ and girls’ cross country, football, boys’ and girls’ volleyball and boys’ and girls’ water polo will begin official practices in December and will start competing in January. Divisional playoffs and championships will be determined in late March and early April at the conclusion of regular season play.

Baseball and softball, competitive cheer, boys’ and girls’ golf, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, boys’ and girls’ soccer, boys’ and girls’ swimming, boys’ and girls’ tennis, boys’ and girls’ track and field and boys’ and girls’ wrestling will begin official practices in March and will start competing in April. Divisional playoffs and championships will be determined in late May and early June at the conclusion of regular season play.

CIF considered canceling the entire year of prep sports but ultimately decided against that option and condensed the three sports seasons into two. Each sport season has 72 days to complete their respective regular seasons and prepare for postseason play. It’s certainly a lot to take in but C.I.F. is determined to have high school sports in 2020-21. Interestingly, referees will be extremely busy and in high demand in 2021.

Football

The Downey and Warren High School football teams have been busy conditioning this fall adhering to social distancing guidelines. Official practices start in December and the regular season will begin the first week in January. Both Downey and Warren have tentative schedules in place that include ten regular season games and postseason play should both teams qualify.

Downey is scheduled to play at Bonita on January 8, at Locke on January 15, host California on January 22, host Tesoro on January 29 and will conclude their preseason schedule when they host Hart on February 5.

The Vikings will begin league play when they host Gahr on February 12, they play at Paramount on February 19, host Dominguez on February 26, and travel to Lynwood on March 5. Downey will conclude its regular season schedule when they host cross-town rival Warren on March 12.

Meanwhile, Warren is scheduled to host St. Anthony’s on January 8, will travel to Claremont on January 15, host Long Beach Jordan on January 22, host Culver City on January 29 and conclude their preseason schedule when they host West Ranch on February 5.

The Bears  begin league play when they host Dominguez on February 12, travel to Lynwood on February 19, travel to Paramount on February 26, host Gahr on March 5 and conclude their regular season schedule when they travel to rival Downey on March 12.