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The start of the high school sports season in California will be delayed until December or January, the California Interscholastic Federation announced Monday.

In releasing a new sports calendar, the state’s governing body for high school sports might be giving the state’s more than 800,000 athletes their best opportunity to have a sports season in the 2020-21 school year. With a summer surge in coronavirus, most California public and private schools plan to begin the academic year with online classes.

“This is the best possible plan we have with what’s going on to give students an opportunity to participate,” said Vicky Lagos, the Los Angeles City Section commissioner. “There are going to be issues in terms of facilities and multiple-sport athletes, but this is the best scenario for the most people. I have confidence the schools and coaches will work it out among themselves. My take from coaches is they want the opportunity to participate and be with the kids.”

High school football practice was scheduled to begin Aug. 3, with games Aug. 21. Girls’ volleyball, cross-country, boys’ water polo, girls’ golf, girls’ tennis and field hockey also are fall sports casualties forced to be delayed.

Under the new CIF calendar, the last section football game is scheduled for April 10, with one week for regional bowl games on April 17. The last volleyball section match would be March 13. The last basketball game in sections would be June 12, followed by state playoffs finishing on June 19. Baseball and softball championships will conclude on June 19 and June 26.

The CIF will allow athletes to participate on club teams at the same time of their high school seasons in a temporary suspension of CIF rules. Local districts can have a stricter rule.

Principals and athletic directors are expected to meet with their coaches this week to devise a plan. Schedules will be revised. Compromises will be needed within athletic departments to solve issues regarding use of facilities and how to help athletes who want to play more than one sport. Safety protocols still need to be worked out to clear the way for practices and games.

The Southern Section will allow summer rules during the offseason, meaning it will be up to principals and county health departments to decide whether teams can work out. If conditions improve, it would lead to schools using the fall as if it were summertime, with seven-on-seven passing tournaments, basketball games, baseball games and all-comers track meets before the official start in January.