California health department update could pave way for CIF Section and State playoffs for baseball, basketball and other 'Season 2' high school sports

The California Department of Public Health released updated youth sports guidance on Wednesday that could pave the way for CIF Section and State playoffs for 'Season 2' high school sports, including baseball, basketball and softball.

The California Department of Public Health released updated youth sports guidance on Wednesday that could pave the way for CIF Section and State playoffs for 'Season 2' high school sports, including baseball, basketball and softball.

According to the CDPH update, "inter-team competitions, meets, races, or similar events are permitted to occur only with other teams within the state." This update is significant because prior guidance allowed only for inter-team competitions, meets, races, or similar events to take place with teams in the same or bordering counties. (Read the full CDPH update)

The CIF is still awaiting clarification from the CDPH on exactly what Wednesday's announcement means, but it appears that a team in Ventura County can now play a team in Orange County, which bodes well for having a postseason for Season 2 sports.

The CIF Southern Section announced on March 22 that they'd make a decision on Season 2 playoffs on April 13. The governing body is now expected to make an announcement on Monday, April 12. Wednesday's updated youth sports guidance makes it more likely for Section playoffs to take place, but nothing is guaranteed at this time. Counties can still choose to be more restrictive than state guidelines.

In order to have playoffs for individual sports, the Southern Section needs to make sure that the county where they hold their championship will allow for athletes from all eight counties to participate. For example, will El Camino College (located in Los Angeles County) be allowed to host Southern Section athletes from all eight counties for a championship meet? That's still to be determined.

The regular season for basketball is scheduled to end on May 22 in the Southern Section, with Section playoffs potentially starting as early as May 25.

Here is the full list of Season 2 sports:

Baseball, softball, boys and and girls basketball, badminton, competitive sport cheer (determined by Section), boys and girls golf, boys and girls lacrosse (determined by Section), boys and girls soccer, boys and girls swimming and diving, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track and field and boys and girls wrestling.