Athletics Update 3/2/2021
Garces Family,

We are thrilled to announce that Tuesday afternoon, the California public health department announced Kern County now has a positive COVID-19 case rate below 14 per 100,000. According to guidelines from the CIF, Kern County Public Health and California Governor Gavin Newsom, that is the threshold to allow football, water polo and soccer to begin full practice in preparation for their shortened seasons this spring.
 
Season of Sport
All outdoor sports are allowed under current guidelines by state and local health officials. Those are cross country, tennis, football, water polo, soccer, golf and swim and dive. The red tier sports seasons of baseball and softball are set to begin at the end of the month. These sports can also condition on campus with social-distancing and daily health protocols in place, including mandatory mask wearing on campus.
 
Level of teams
Garces Memorial has elected to participate in JV and varsity sports. Our athletic department and coaching staff will do everything they can to field lower-level contests this spring.
 
Transportation
Because social distancing will be needed with public transportation this season, Garces Memorial has made the decision to ask parents to drive their children to all road contests this season. We are aware this is an inconvenience, but a necessary one. Garces Memorial can only compete in Kern County and those counties it borders, so travel will not be more than 120 miles to a competition, per CIF guidelines. Upon arrival, each student-athlete will then be temperature checked before each competition.
 
Attendance
At this time, Garces Memorial is diligently working on protocol for immediate family-only fan attendance. Once we have solidified a plan, we will inform you as soon as possible. Spectators that are allowed will have their temperatures checked, be required to wear a mask at all times and complete a health questionnaire. Any spectator that refuses to comply will be asked to leave campus immediately. 

Club and Garces Athletics
The CIF made the decision to waive bylaws 600-605, regarding student-athletes to play for high school and club at the same time, except football. Garces Memorial honors this and is allowing our student-athletes to compete in more than one sport at a time, including club. We are aware a different decision was made in town. That does not reflect Garces Memorial. We will also do our best to not schedule over the weekend to allow our student-athletes to compete in both.

Covid Testing for Garces Memorial
For football and water polo, Covid-19 testing will need to be conducted 24 hours before games. There is supposed to be information coming from the state health department regarding protocols and how that will be administered. When we receive that information, we will pass it along as soon as possible.