Sac-Joaquin Section introduces new no-contact rule during lockdown

On July 1, the Sac-Joaquin Section implemented its new no-contact lockdown rule, halting all summer high school sports activities.

The new rule, adopted in January 2024, states that no athletic activities or contact between student athletes and school athletic departments will be allowed between July 1 and July 14. This new rule replaces the SJS’s pre- and postseason break introduced for each sport, during which some weight lifting and conditioning training was still possible for teams.

“The philosophy behind the rest period was that kids and coaches should get a break from each other and spend time apart,” said Will DeBoard, SJS assistant superintendent. “You don’t want kids to focus on one sport or play one sport 12 months out of the year, and it’s good to try to avoid that burnout not only for the kids but for coaches and parents as well.”

Bear Creek's Natalie Trujillo makes contact during a Sac-Joaquin Section softball playoff game against Tracy at the Tracy Sports Complex in Tracy on May 14, 2024. Tracy won 5-0.

The SJS has listed some examples of activities that teams are not allowed to carry out during the new general lockdown period:

Practice
team building
Weightlifting
Conditioning
Conferences
Fundraising campaigns

Student-athletes may continue to train, maintain conditioning, and participate in club sports competitions as long as they do so voluntarily and do not come into contact with their high school coach.

More:The San Joaquin Summer Swim Alliance hosts the annual swimming championship meet in Stockton

The compromises

SJS members voted 56 to 2 to approve the new embargo period during a board meeting on January 30.

“Our schools have voted overwhelmingly for a recess period, and I think there are definitely some people who say, ‘Hey, we can take care of ourselves and we’ll make sure the kids have a recess period,’ and that sort of thing,” DeBoard said. “But the problem is not everyone is doing that, and our schools have 100% said we believe the need for a recess period is necessary.”

The only league to call for a general suspension period in this section were two representatives from the Trans Valley League. They are the only league to vote against the new suspension period; however, they are not the only ones to complain about the stricter suspension period guidelines.

According to DeBoard, the department has already received calls, mostly from sports whose summer tournaments and competitions fall within the lockdown period.

Sports such as water polo, wrestling, softball, track and field and soccer have seen the greatest concerns raised as some coaches look to work with their athletes in advance of recruiting events, club outings and the fall season.

SJS coaches who also double as travel, AAU or club coaches for their respective sports have likely suffered the most, according to DeBoard. Their conflict of interest as high school coaches with the new suspension means they cannot have any contact with their club team for the two-week period.

There is also cause for complaint among football coaches as the 2024-25 football season approaches and teams are eager to prepare their athletes for a competitive season.

“I’m not a huge fan of the new lockout, I just think it was rushed a little bit,” said Chris Musseman, head coach of Ripon football, one of the teams that are part of the TVL. “They made that decision in January and then changed it for this year. I’ve had a lot of families before that planned their vacation based on the lockout that was published.”

“The fact that we didn’t give notice a year in advance is a huge blow to us, because many of our key players will not be available for training in the next two weeks,” Musseman said.

DeBoard and the Section recognize that this new general suspension period is not entirely ideal and encourage school board representatives to propose changes to the suspension period.

“That’s something they can do sometime next year,” DeBoard said. “I’ve worked in this department for 15 years and we’ve done something unpopular, we hear about it and we hear about it in abundance. The amount of complaints we get about it is not as great as other potentially unpopular rules, but the people who are affected by it are undoubtedly greatly affected.”

More:Stockton-area football: Here are the top 60 returnees by position ahead of the 2024-25 season

Record reporter Shannon Belt covers sports. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter at @ShannonBelt3. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

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