BELLFLOWER, Calif. – If you would've asked St. John Bosco's head football coach Jason Negro what was going through his head in December of last year, words like excitement and joy would have to mind.
The Braves had just capped off a near perfect season, culminating in a state championship and a national championship title.
Negro couldn't have imagined that seven months later, he'd be sitting in his office — not game planning, but instead planning for a delayed fall season.
“This is so unpredictable," he said. "We can’t control this virus, we can’t control the safety and the health of the entire population. These last few months have been so hectic."
On Monday, the California Interscholastic Federation, which is the governing body for the state's high school sports programs, announced that the season as a whole would be delayed until at least December.
In addition, the typical three sports seasons will be condensed down to two.
Rob Wigod, the commissioner of the CIF Southern Section, said the decision was made in part due to Governor Newsom's school update last week in light of the recent uptick in coronavirus cases.
“If we had made this announcement on July 1, it probably would've been different than it was today," he explained. "We have obviously seen what’s happened over the last few weeks, and the impact it’s made. That’s when we really focused on going to two seasons."
No football in the fall is something no one could've anticipated. For senior wide receiver for Beaux Collins, it's not exactly the way he saw his final season playing out.
“That wasn’t in my mind at all and it’s not something I ever thought would happen," Collins said. "It’s pretty crazy.”
While unprecedented, the decision brought a smile to he and coach Negro's faces after months of uncertainty.
“It was actually kind of exciting," Negro said. "It was exciting to get an actual calendar. It was exciting to see that there was an actual start date.”
He and the Braves won't be taking the field for kickoff until January 8, but per CIF guidelines, they will be allowed to continue training together. CIF will allow teams to operate under "summertime rules," meaning it will be up to principals and local health officials to determine how teams can continue practicing.
For many high school athletes, like Collins and his teammate and fellow senior Adam Awaida, just having the possibility and opportunity to play is a welcome announcement — with football such an important part of their lives.
"I was worried because it's my senior season, I want to play," Awaida said. "I was really excited because given the circumstances, this is a blessing. For a lot of us, it’s a way of success just keeping us active, out of trouble and for me it’s really important in trying to provide for my family in the future.”
Along with football, cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, traditional competitive cheer, volleyball and waterpolo will take place in the fall season. Spring sports will include badminton, baseball, competitive sports cheer, basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and wrestling.
Competition will begin as early as December 18 for the fall season and will continue on through mid-April. In the spring, girls tennis will kick things off on February 22, and the season will culminate with track and field championships at the end of June.
One other notable change that came from the CIF's decision is that high school athletes will be able to compete with their travel or club teams during their high school sports seasons.
Visit the CIF website for more information on start dates and new bylaws.