- Valley View News
Football Teams Resume Practice
Updated: Nov 1, 2020
OXNARD, CA – Football season is officially back. The NFL and College Football resumed their seasons in early September. California high school football teams have begun practicing for when their season begins in early January.
Photo, Ryan Ketcham
Along with the resumption of football in California, sports bars have also reopened. The Dugout Sports Grill in Simi Valley has socially distanced outdoor seating with more than 12 screens playing live sports throughout the day.
“We still have limitations as far as not being able to get too close and no more than six people at a table, but it’s still something so I’ll take it,” said Erick Gonzalez, a customer at Dugout Sports Grill.
When it comes to high school football, schools in Los Angeles County and Ventura County are not offering in-person learning, which is standard through most of the state. The 2019 CIF State Division 2-A Championship football team at Pacifica High School in Oxnard returned to practice on September 16th to defend their title.
The biggest concern with the season is the safety of the players during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professional and collegiate sports may be fine with coming back, but these high schools have to deal with the safety of minors playing. Despite the concerns, local high schools like Pacifica have implemented several safety procedures including mandatory social distancing, temperature checks and one coach per small group of players. Players do not wear their pads or uniforms. They practice without a football and can not make contact with each other.
These rules are not standard for every school district. According to the LA County Department of Public Health, athletes need to have physical distancing, face coverings and only operate outside, but they can practice in pairs for throwing and kicking footballs. These rules cannot be loosened, but they can be more strict, as in the case for Pacifica.
Senior linebacker and defensive captain at Pacifica, Angel Mendoza, says he is not worried about any spread through the team.
“I trust what Coach Moon’s doing for us. I feel like he is doing what’s best for us, staying socially distanced and masks,” said Mendoza.
Video, Xavier Mascarenas; The Sacramento Bee
Along with staying socially distanced, head coach, Mike Moon, makes sure each of the groups are abiding by the COVID-19 protocols during the entire practice. Moon communicates with each group using a megaphone.
“It's just excited to have them back. I mean that’s what I love to do is to be around the kids and joke with the kids and relate to them, and see them overcome obstacles and be successful and reach great heights. So, to be able to get them back has been great,”said Moon. “We’re going to be safe and we’re going to make sure the kids are safe as we do this. That’s the number one priority.”
If the safety procedures continue to work, and no breakouts occur, California football will resume at all levels by January 8, 2021.
Video, Ryan Ketcham
Audio, Ryan Ketcham
By Ryan Ketcham
With contributions from Los Angeles Daily News
Photo, Ryan Ketcham
Video, The Sacramento Bee
Video, Ryan Ketcham
Audio, Ryan Ketcham
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Return of football renews fears over more virus spread