Outdoor late spring sports will resume when Sacramento County enters the red tier of the states reopening plan
ARC and the other Los Rios colleges opt into a late spring season
American River College softball outfielder Kirsten Cox swings and misses in the bottom of the fifth inning against Sacramento City at American River College in Spring 2019. Late spring sports at ARC are expected to return as the county moves into the red tier in the states’ reopening plan, in Spring 2021. (Photo by Irene Jacobs)
After a long time of waiting and anticipation, American River College and the rest of the Los Rios Community College District’s colleges have opted into the Big 8 conferences plans for a late spring sports season this semester.
“The decision is based upon Sacramento county staying in the red tier when it comes to the statewide reopening blueprints,” said Kathleen Sullivan-Torrez, interim dean of kinesiology & athletics.
At this time only outdoor sports will resume for this season, according to Sullivan-Torrez.
Those sports include baseball, tennis, track and field, softball, golf, and swimming. In order to stay connected, conditioning classes, team practices and some limited competition with other Los Rios colleges will be conducted.
Each sports program has the same regiment when it comes to safety plans and testing requirements.
“[There is a] safety plan, which includes comprehensive required COVID-19 testing is being proposed and should have word on that soon,” Sullivan-Torrez said.
At this time the ARC sports teams will not be able to compete in outer district events and only travel within the district will be allowed.
Sacramento County is currently in the purple tier when it comes to the state’s reopening plan. When the tier color becomes red near April the late spring sports will be able to start. Sullivan-Torrez says rigorous testing for athletes and coaches will take place no matter the sport.
“Other sports that are not spring sports can start practice and other activities when the county enters the red tier. The same testing used for the spring sports will be used for those sports that are actively practicing this spring,” Sullivan-Torrez said.
Those sports include football, volleyball, cross country, basketball, soccer, and water polo.
Each coach will work to contact their student-athletes in order to provide more detailed information such as practice, testing times, and safety protocols, according to Sullivan-Torrey.
Expanded competition and activities will be allowed as public health conditions improve, according to Sullivan-Torrez.
Sullivan-Torrez says everyone’s health is our top concern at the moment.
“The well-being of our students, coaches and staff is our main priority and we look forward to getting our student-athletes back into action very soon,” Sullivan-Torrez said.
