SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Despite California loosening restrictions on youth sports under certain criteria and a San Diego judge's order that high school sports can resume in the county with restrictions, some families say they may have to go back to court in order to play.
Sophia Truscott, of Mount Carmel High School, is a multi-sport athlete who competes in CrossFit and water polo, and holds a school record for the 100-meter hurdles. She hopes to compete in college, so being sidelined by the pandemic has been a blow.
"It has been so stressful because trying to find a workout and trying to find a way to have that social interaction has been taxing," Truscott said.
Recently, a judge ruled high school sports can resume under the same COVID-19 protocols as professional and collegiate sports.
A huge victory for Scripps Ranch football coach and father Marlon Gardinera. His son was one of two local high school athletes who filed a lawsuit against the county and the state over restrictions on youth sports.
"I'm still riding high," Gardinera said. "The idea that we have to ask politicians for permission to relieve our kids of the restrictions that they've been under for 11 months still seems absurd to me."
Governor Gavin Newsom says counties must have a COVID-19 adjusted daily case rate at or below 14 per 100,000 residents for outdoor sports to resume. San Diego County's case rate last week was 22.2, but public health officials anticipate that number to be closer to 14 this week.
But with the judge's ruling on resuming high school sports, the California Interscholastic Federation, which governs high school sports, must also give the green light. If that doesn't happen, Gardinera says they'll be back in court on Wednesday.
"If CIF doesn't get on board we're going to go back to court on Wednesday to hold them in contempt," said Gardinera.
The attorney in the San Diego case told ABC 10News his firm will file similar suits in other counties all across the state this week using the ruling here as a blueprint. ABC 10News has reached out to CIF but has yet to hear back.
