CIF Southern Section announces it will hold playoffs for spring sports

With vaccine access in California set to open up to everyone 16 and older on Thursday and coronavirus cases on the decline, the state’s largest CIF sports section, the Southern Section, announced Monday that it would hold playoffs in spring sports.

Baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, softball, team tennis, boys volleyball, and dual meet wrestling will get championships. The Southern Section also announced it was working toward securing approvals from various health departments to hold individual championships in golf, swimming, tennis, and track and field. There will be no individual championships for wrestling.

Playoff dates will be similar to those created last July, commissioner Rob Wigod said. “I think we’re ready to go and keep the calendar,” he said.

The decision to hold playoffs is too late for Southern Section football, which will hold its final games this weekend, ending a six-week regular season. The City Section began its four-game regular season last weekend and will continue until April 30.

The City Section, made up mostly of Los Angeles Unified schools, has already decided to hold playoffs and team championships for all spring sports at home sites with the exception of wrestling and basketball, which remain uncertain. It also would need a waiver from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to hold a track championship. LAUSD still hasn’t decided when or if it will allow an indoor basketball season.

With the Southern Section holding playoffs, it means there will be conflicts with ongoing club and travel programs, forcing athletes and coaches to make decisions. Basketball, soccer and volleyball club competitions will be taking place. The CIF granted a waiver allowing athletes to compete simultaneously this year only.

The Southern Section will keep its same playoff divisions and groupings and require a .500 or better record for at-large teams. The size of brackets could be different depending on how many leagues send in qualifiers. Wigod said plaques will be given out and dog piles will happen. “This is the business we’re in, to create lifetime memories,” he said.

As for spring state and regional championships, the CIF is expected to make a decision by early next month.

It’s still unlikely there will be state or regional championships. Four sections have already canceled spring sports playoffs — San Francisco, North Coast, Northern and Sac-Joaquin. Also, travel is an obstacle and teams don’t want to stay overnight, which would be required for state track championships.