Youth sports guidelines updated after 'Let Them Play' lawsuit reaches settlement with state

The return of all high school sports in California grew closer late Thursday after the California Department of Public Health updated its guidelines to allow youth and recreational sports to proceed if certain health conditions were met.

The Record Searchlight earlier reported that not all high school sports could return until the state had revised its guidelines to reflect a landmark settlement reached by two San Diego-based high school athletes, youth sports advocates and state officials.

The settlement will require testing for indoor sports, though the settlement announcement includes agreements with outside groups to provide testing for school districts at no cost, according to Let Them Play California.

While the settlement could allow youth sports, including high school sports, to restart in the coming weeks, the California Interscholastic Federation issued a statement saying it was not ready to immediately say sports could start again.

“It is our understanding that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) will be updating its Youth Sports Guidance based on a settlement agreement reached in a litigation matter pending in San Diego County,” the CIF-Southern Section statement said. “It is further our understanding that the settlement agreement is not yet available for review. We are therefore reserving comment on the terms of the agreement until it is finalized. Until such time, it is our understanding that the current CDPH Youth Sports Guidance remains in effect pending the publication of any updated CDPH guidance.”

The San Diego lawsuit is the latest in a series of rapid-fire changes for high school sports in California. Sports such as cross-country and alpine sports played in Shasta County have had contests, with recent COVID-19 numbers allowing for other sports including high school football to begin play this month.

As of now, Shasta County remains in the red tier, or the second-most restrictive tier for reopening in California.

Shasta County reported 10 adjusted cases per 100,000 residents this week, under the 14 cases that previously prevented football from being played. 

While other indoor sports such as volleyball and basketball are not allowed under current guidelines, the San Diego ruling could change that.

Attorney Stephen Grebing, who represented two San Diego-area high school football players in the San Diego suit, said indoor sports will be allowed with testing within 48 hours of competition and periodic testing throughout the week.

Grebing said the state is only providing testing for football, rugby and water polo, so testing for other sports will have to be acquired through other means.

Administrators from the Shasta Unified High School District and Anderson Unified High School District have announced how their plans will offer free weekly COVID-19 testing to football players and coaches. 

Individual counties will need to sign off on the updated guidelines, though Grebing said San Diego County appeared to be agreeable to the terms.

A Vista judge granted a temporary restraining order last month in the lawsuit filed on behalf of Nicholas Gardinera, a senior at Scripps Ranch High School, and Cameron Woolsey, a senior at Mission Hills High School.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Earl H. Maas III’s order held that youth sports could resume if teams maintained COVID-19 protocols similar to those of professional sports.

The settlement is seen as a positive step for all high school athletes who haven't competed during the 2020-21 season. 

"This year is definitely going to be a lot of hurry up and go for kids," Foothill football coach Joey Brown said. "There's a lot more hope for restarting everything for fall the way it should be. I'm just excited about the return to normal and getting these kids to let them play as many sports as they can."  

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Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.