Los Angeles Unified School District athletes spent 18 months unable to play sports because of COVID-19 protocols and now many are facing more obstacles because of a shortage of bus drivers following a mandate that they must be vaccinated.
According to a district memo sent to athletic directors Tuesday, effective this week, because of a shortage of vaccinated drivers, all athletic competition must begin at 4 p.m. or earlier. The first affected are football games and playoff volleyball matches. Basketball games next month will follow the same rules. So if this policy stands, no more Friday night football games for the rest of the season.
There is one exception this week. Lincoln (8-0) is scheduled to play Franklin (7-1) in the Kenny Washington Memorial Game to decide the Northern League championship. Lincoln coach Gabriel Cotero said the game has received approval to be played at 7 p.m.
Andy Moran, football coach at Eagle Rock and president of the coaches’ association, said, “The district didn’t think this was going to be as big a problem as it is. I didn’t realize so many bus drivers weren’t going to get vaccinated.”
Fairfax has filled out paperwork to transport players by private auto so it can play night football game on Friday at Palisades.
District employees were required to be vaccinated as of Oct. 15.
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