Winter Sports Seasons – Adjusted. As the ever-changing situation with COVID-19 continues, we know the number of games that have been postponed to this point has been an extremely difficult challenge for our member schools to overcome. Some sports are affected more than others, but the ability to remain on course and complete original schedules have been deeply affected by the pandemic. As you know, end dates for our Southern Section regular seasons are heavily influenced by CIF Southern Regional and CIF State Championship events that take place after our Southern Section Championships are concluded. Currently, the original dates for the CIF Southern Regional and CIF State Championship events remain as scheduled and whether they are revised or not going forward remains to be seen. Therefore, I wanted to inform you of some steps that we are taking immediately to address the situation involving factors under our control.

The Sunday option for postponed contests recently announced by the CIF State Office last week could potentially help with possible play dates in the weeks ahead and we hope that is something that can be utilized when necessary. Also, by adjusting the end dates for our Southern Section boys/girls basketball, boys/girls soccer and girls water polo, we can provide some additional days at the end of our regular seasons for schools to reschedule postponed games and that is exactly what we are prepared to do. We want to make every effort possible to get our regular seasons completed on time and our Southern Section Championships accomplished as well. Therefore, here are the adjustments we are implementing to the regular seasons for boys/girls basketball, boys/girls soccer, and girls water polo, effective Wednesday, Jan. 12. 

Boys/Girls Basketball

Last Day – Sunday, Feb. 6

Entries Due – Saturday, Feb. 6 – 6 p.m.

Bracket Release – Tuesday, Feb. 8 – Time – TBA

Wild Card – Boys – Wednesday, Feb. 9; and Girls – Tuesday, Feb. 10

1^st Round – Boys – Friday, Feb. 11; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 12 (Open – 1^st Round)

2^nd Round – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 15; Girls – Wednesday, Feb. 16 (Open – 2^nd Round)

Quarterfinals – Boys – Friday, Feb. 18; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 19 (Open – 3^rd Round)

Semifinals – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 22; Girls – Feb. 23

Finals (All Divisions – Home Sites) – Friday/Saturday, Feb. 25/26

Boys/Girls Soccer

Last Day – Sunday, Feb. 6

Entries Due – Sunday, Feb. 6 – 6 p.m.

Bracket Release – Tuesday, Feb. 8 – Time – TBA

Wild Card – Boys – Wednesday Feb. 9; Girls – Thursday, Feb. 10

1^st Round – Boys – Friday, Feb. 11; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 12

2^nd Round – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 15; Girls – Wednesday, Feb. 16

Quarterfinals – Boys – Friday, Feb. 18; Girls – Saturday, Feb. 19

Semifinals – Boys – Tuesday, Feb. 22; Girls – Wednesday, Feb. 23

Finals (Home Sites) – Saturday, Feb. 26

Girls Water Polo

Last Day – Sunday, Feb. 6

Entries Due – Sunday, Feb. 6 – 6 p.m.

Bracket Release – Monday, Feb. 7 – 1 p.m.

Wild Card – 32-Team Brackets Only – Tuesday, Feb. 8

1^st Round – 32-Team Brackets or Wild Card 16 -Team Brackets – Wednesday, Feb. 9

Round of 16 – Thursday, Feb. 10 (Open – 1^st Round)

Quarterfinals – Saturday, Feb. 12

Semifinals (All Divisions) – Wednesday, Feb. 16

Finals (All Divisions – Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine) – Saturday, Feb. 19

Final thoughts from Rob Wigod CIF commissioner: “On Jan. 19, I distributed a CIF Southern Section Update and here is what I said: ‘These are extremely difficult times for everyone involved. This may be the darkest period we have experienced throughout the 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. As we look ahead, the holidays are now behind us, although the surge from that time frame is still being felt and is hopefully close to ending. Vaccines are arriving and inoculations are happening every day. Perhaps we will see case rates, hospitalizations and deaths begin to decrease and relief will come to our health care system. With those developments, the conversations with the Governor’s Office, the California Department of Public Health and local health authorities regarding return to play can take on a different tone and real progress could potentially be made. I know you join me in the belief that we must go forward doing everything possible on behalf of our student-athletes.’

“In the 358 days since I wrote those words, we have certainly experienced the ups and downs associated with what we have all gone through and continue to go through. At that time, most of our schools did not have students being educated on campus and none of our athletics programs were operating and had returned to play. These words remind me of the resilience that we have all shown, the resolve with which we have attacked the obstacles that have been in front of us by working together and the successes we were able to achieve during the spring and fall of 2021. One year later, on Jan. 12, 2022, despite the developments over the last month or so, we are still in a better place now than we were then. It is my sincere belief that we will forge ahead and make it all happen again with the same dedication, commitment and spirit we have always shared with you in service to the young men and young women we are so fortunate to serve.

“I hope this information is useful to you in the time ahead and if you have any questions, or me or my staff can help you in any way at all, do not hesitate to contact us. We are ready, willing and able to assist you in any way we possibly can.

“Thank you very much for your help and support, it is truly appreciated.”