Courtesy photo.
CAMARILLO — After opting out of Spring I season sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) will “opt-in” for the upcoming California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Spring II season. The decision is based on CCCAA COVID-19 guidelines and input from the athletic directors, coaches and athletic staff of Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura colleges. The Spring II season includes men’s and women’s competitive sports and begins April 10. The length of the season varies by sport.
Spring II sports at Moorpark College include baseball, beach volleyball, softball and men’s and women’s track and field. Oxnard College sports include baseball and softball. Ventura College sports are baseball, beach volleyball, men’s golf, softball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s track and field.
The athletes will follow guidelines from the COVID-19 Industry Guidance: Institutions of Higher Education, produced by the California Department of Public Health and Cal/OSHA, and VCCCD Healthy Return to Campus protocols, where students and staff will fill out a self-assessment questionnaire each day they are on campus and complete a mandatory temperature check-in.
Travel to competitions will be to limited areas. When travel is required, buses will transport the players and staff. There will be fewer passengers per bus; everyone will be required to wear masks and be in “checkerboard” seating. Each passenger will also undergo a temperature check before boarding.
“We know that our student athletes are eager to get back to competing,” said Chancellor Greg Gillespie. “We understand their enthusiasm and are pleased that we are able to opt-in for the upcoming Spring II season sports. The decision to participate required a thorough and careful review of the COVID-19 pandemic conditions. As always, our students’ and staff’s health and safety is our utmost concern.”
The decision about whether Fall season sports can begin conditioning practices will take place in early April. VCCCD will continue to monitor the situation as new information is released from Ventura County Public Health.
About Ventura County Community College District — The Ventura County Community College District is a member of the 116-campus California Community College system and serves approximately 31,000 students annually. The District’s three colleges–Moorpark, Oxnard and Ventura–offer programs in general education for degrees and certificates, transfer to four-year colleges and universities, career technical education, and provide opportunities to engage in co-curricular campus activities. For more information, please visit vcccd.edu