CCSD to alter sports schedule because of transportation issues

The Clark County School District is making changes to the high school fall sports schedule because of lack of transportation.

All nonconference games have been canceled, and no additions to schedules will be allowed for the rest of the season.

Other changes include midweek cross country meets being canceled, with CCSD schools allowed to reschedule them for Saturdays. All junior varsity and B football games and Friday tennis matches will be rescheduled for Saturdays, and boys and girls soccer matches will begin no earlier than 4:30 p.m.

CCSD athletic director Tim Jackson sent a statement to the district’s member schools and parents outlining the changes.

“The district is committed to providing students ongoing access to athletics for this school year,” the statement said. “While managing COVID-19 mitigation protocols to minimize the health and safety of student-athletes during practices and competitions, our transportation resources and staffing for buses are being impacted like so many school districts across the country.”

Jackson said in a text message Tuesday that alternative transportation options were discussed, such as allowing athletes to drive themselves to games or have parents take them.

“All options were considered with student participation and safety at the forefront,” Jackson said. “We continue to work with our community partners, CCSD transportation and SNOA (Southern Nevada Officials Association) to provide the most access to CCSD student athletes with the desire to see our students participate in the fullest manner possible, safely and equitably.”

Girls volleyball has the most cancellations with 29 — 15 this week and 14 next week. Three girls soccer games and one boys soccer game were also canceled.

Varsity football does not appear to be affected by the changes because league play for CCSD schools begins this week.

Rancho’s girls volleyball team was one of the hardest hit by the decision. The Rams, expected to be one of the top contenders for the Class 4A state championship, had five matches wiped out over the next two weeks.

Rancho coach Amanda Weber said her players were upset by the news but that they still had a high level of energy at Tuesday’s practice.

“It’s disappointing,” Weber said. “It’s frustrating because they put in so much hard work, and then they had those games taken away from them because of something they can’t control. … But we have the state of mind that more practice will make us better, and we still have to look at the ultimate goal, which is a state championship.”

Contact Jason Orts at jorts@reviewjournal.com. Follow @SportsWithOrts on Twitter.