Kehillah Athletics 2020-2021 Information
FEBRUARY 2021 UPDATE
Dear Kehillah Students and Families,
We have been working on safe ways to encourage and engage our students in physical activities. There are many restrictions, and thus some of the activities that we have traditionally offered do not look likely for the duration of the 2020-2021 school year. We are hoping that the following ideas create opportunities for fun experiences that closely replace some of our team sports. The plan is to begin when we are back on campus.
We are NOT Participating in League Sports for Volleyball and Cross Country
Volleyball and Cross Country seasons both conclude on March 20. According to state standards, we would not be allowed to play Volleyball matches until reaching the orange tier.
The Basketball Season is TBD
Basketball is looking like a longshot due to its yellow tier status, but we are hopeful and will continue to look into options, which may mean offering something outside, or playing a truncated season if/when we make it to the yellow tier.
The main takeaway is that due to when each league season is scheduled to occur compared with what we are allowed to play(tiers), creating our own non-league programs provide more flexibility, and can be played for a longer duration with less restrictions. We will wait to make a decision regarding basketball because games are not scheduled to begin until late March, which gives us time to hopefully transition to the yellow tier.
Athletic Options for the Remainder of the 2020-2021 school year:
While we have decided to opt out of participating in league play for Cross Country and Volleyball, we think that there are some opportunities for our students to still engage in fun athletics experiences.
Athletic options for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year
We are creating a co-ed program that should have both competitive and non-competitive options. These matches would be played outside on a smaller court (Net is 15 feet wide instead of 30), and likely 4 vs. 4 so that we can maintain physical distancing. There are a number of outdoor venue options including the Kehillah parking lot, OFJCC turf, and local parks (grass). These matches would be played amongst Kehillah students, and we would not be allowed to play other schools.
Instead of a Cross Country team that competes, this would be more of a running club where students go running near the Kehillah campus, and/or may run at other nearby locations. This group would be similar to our league team of past years, the main difference is that there would be no team meets to attend.
Our tennis program has never been in a league. Students practiced two times per week and played in a few matches against local schools. This year would be a similar format, with the exception that students would not compete against other schools. There should be plenty of opportunities to practice, build skills, and play in matches against other Kehillah students. The courts are 10-15 minutes away from Kehillah (walking).
OFJCC Membership:
Reminder that all Kehillah students have a membership at the OFJCC, which is currently offering outside fitness options. There is a one-time membership form to fill out (typically part of the entrance packet as 9th grade or transfer students). Please send me a note if you are unsure if you have submitted the document, and I can check with the OFJCC membership department.
Morning Workouts:
During the first semester I hosted before-school training which a few students attended. I am planning to restart this again soon.
Please take a minute to fill out this survey. It will help us with the logistical decisions (coaches, rentals, offerings). If it is not filled out, the assumption will be that you are not interested in participating.
Additional Information:
Observance and Non Activity Dates:
Kehillah will not hold any athletics on Jewish holidays, after school on Fridays, or in conflict with school closures.
Required Athletic Forms:
Each “normal” year students are required to complete forms to participate in athletics. This year we will be requiring the online forms for our after-school programs. The health physical form will be required for basketball if we are playing in the league.
2021-2022 Athletics (next year):
The goal is to revert back to what we had expected to offer this school year, but we will continue to make adjustments as needed. I don’t expect there will be much information available about next year’s seasons until sometime during the Summer.
Thank you for your patience while we evaluated alternatives for this Spring. We will send out additional notes with more specifics as we come closer to being back on campus. The after-school athletics will only be available to students that opt for the in-person learning option. Please fill out the Student Survey and we look forward to seeing you on campus soon!
DECEMBER 2020 UPDATE
We are hopeful that some sports will still have their league seasons, but it is looking increasingly likely that a few of our sports will played in a different format. Please be on the lookout for an email from Ryan Greenfield early next week that will lay out information about athletics for the Spring semester.
CLICK HERE to see the latest info about youth sports from the California Department of Public Health.
New decisions and an update should be made available the first week of January.
Important points from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH):
No sports competitions between schools at this time.
We are awaiting updates from the CDPH as they assess the ongoing changes.
The sports we will offer are dependent on the tier, contact-level, and location of activity.
These are the sports that we are looking into as options for the 2020-2021 school year, aligned with tier and location.
Athletic Forms:
Please continue to submit health examination and online forms. Transfer students will need to fill out an additional form that I submit through the CCS office. Athletic Forms and FAQ
Check this page often for updates from the athletics department.
For the ease of reading and understanding we have included a jargon table for newbies and veterans alike. These are the common acronyms that are used in athletics for Kehillah.
| GOVERNING BODIES | ACRONYM | DUTIES |
| California Interscholastic Federation | CIF | The governing body that oversees California |
| Central Coast Section | CCS | The regional governing body that oversees high schools from King City to South San Francisco |
| Private School Athletic League | PSAL | Kehillah belongs and competes within this league. Teams range from Pescadero/Pacifica, San Francisco to South San Jose |
| Oshman Family Jewish Community Center | OFJCC | Our friendly neighbor across the street. Kehillah uses their soccer field, gym, fitness center, cafe,and outdoor lounge amongst other things. |
The big announcement for the 2020-2021 school year is that there will only be two seasons of athletics.
The starting dates have been postponed and the Winter sports were moved into the Spring season.
- Season 1: Cross Country and Girls Volleyball
- Season 2: Boys and Girls Basketball, Tennis, and Track
These are the proposed starting dates for the two seasons in the 2020-2021 school year. Additional details can be found in the attached document here: CIF/CCS Athletics Calendar with relevant dates
| PRACTICE START DATE | GAME START DATE | END OF THE SEASON | |
| Season 1 | Early January 2021 (TBD) | January 25, 2021 | Mid-March |
| Season 2 | March 15, 2021 | March 29, 2021 | End of May/Early June 2021 |
Transportation:
We will need a lot of help with driving this year as students will need additional space, and both parents and athletes may not be comfortable riding with non-household members. While we have our school van that can normally hold six athletes, we will probably only be able to safely transport two players with the van.
Athletic Forms:
In order to play sports at Kehillah, it is required by the state of California that all athletes perform, and submit a Health Examination physical that is dated within 12 months of the participation dates.
Please note that all forms need to be signed and returned before they can participate in any activity (practice, match). This is California state law.
- • Online Forms: This set of forms can be viewed and signed online, with no need to submit hard copies.
- • Health Examination: This form needs to be signed by a physician and either turned in as a hard copy or submitted electronically so that I can print it.
***Please note the following:
- • We receive a number of Health Examinations where the physical date is outside of the 12 month window, or will expire during the season.
- • The relevant date is not when the form is signed by the physician, it is the actual date of the most recent physical examination.
- • If a physical expires during the season, the student will need to get an examination, and have the form filled out before they are able to continue participating in the season.
We are looking forward to a great year of athletics! Please reach out to Ryan Greenfield at rgreenfield@kehillah.org if you have any questions or would like to submit your health forms.
Sincerely,
Ryan Greenfield
Director of Athletics
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