CIF suspends dead period

Normally the CIF San Diego Section has a "dead period" in which contact between coaches and student-athletes is not allowed. Because the coronavirus shutdown eliminated team activity, there will not be a no contact period for summer 2020.

"I think it was the right thing to do with all of the shutdowns that we've had," said CIF assistant commissioner John Labeta. "There's no reason to have a no contact period this year."

In 2002 the CIF implemented a two-week period which prohibits participation or scheduling of organized practices, student-led team practices, team participation in tournaments or clinics, issuance of equipment, school site physical examinations, and organizational meetings.

Individual students are allowed to attend a clinic or tournament, and a weight training school class an athlete is not required to attend does not violate the regulation. The prohibition against team activity rather than activity involving an individual student-athlete allows student-athletes with a relative coaching at the school to discuss athletic matters or participate in informal athletic activities.

Before 2015 the CIF commissioner annually set a specific two-week "dead period" for the entire section, although if a school principal submitted a written request for an alternative 14-day period the commissioner had the authority to grant that.

A 2015 change allowed schools to select a two-week dead period for each sport, although the no contact period must still be for two consecutive weeks.

Each school submits a form to the CIF office stipulating the starting and ending dates of the no contact period for each sport. The dead period can start no earlier than the close of school and no later than July 19, a date which would end the no contact period Aug. 2.

Because the no contact period is during the summer, the prohibition against team camps, clinics, and tournaments applied only to fall sports and not to winter or spring sports. In 2018, the CIF allowed such activities supervised by the school coach or coaching staff members and within two weeks of the start of fall practices.

Eliminating injuries during the season, especially in sports such as cross country where endurance tolerance can be benefited if a runner builds base miles during summer training, was also a reason for that modification which did not eliminate the dead period.

Next year the situation will be reviewed to determine if the no contact period during summer 2021 will also be waived.