Dear Walnut High School Families,
As many of you are aware, the California Youth Sports Guidelines were recently updated on Friday, February 19, 2021. The significant change to these guidelines pertains to outdoor sports considered to have moderate to high contact and may include:
- Baseball
- Basketball (Outdoors)
- Cheerleading (Outdoors)
- Cross Country
- Dance (Outdoors, no contact)
- Football
- Golf
- Swim
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Volleyball (Outdoors)
- Water Polo
Following the California Department of Public Health’s updated guidelines for Youth Sports and the County of Los Angeles Public Health’s reopening protocols for Youth Sports, we are excited to begin the process of returning athletic competitions to our campus. As safety remains our primary goal, the latest health guidelines (linked above) will be followed to ensure the safest possible conditions as our athletes and coaches begin the return to athletics.
Beginning this week, athletes and coaches are allowed to cohort by team and have permission for athletes to share equipment (bags, balls, etc). Coaches and staff will implement safety measures to accompany the shift, such as continuing a systematic regiment for handwashing and developing procedures for sanitization of equipment.
Though we have not yet finalized any of the game schedules, Hacienda League Athletic Directors are meeting behind the scenes to work out details and logistics. In my next update, we will have a better understanding of how, if possible, we will be able to provide additional specifics on the return to play, including guidelines for spectators.
In the upcoming weeks, you will hear from your coaches regarding the next steps as we prepare for tryouts, practice, scheduling, games, protocols, and more. Though the situation remains fluid as COVID case rates fluctuate in LA County, we are very excited and look forward to coming back together as a community soon. Let’s finish this year strong!
Sincerely,
Ryan Maine
Principal
Walnut High School