Sunday games may be in the future for local high school sports teams.

The California Interscholastic Federation announced in a memo sent to member schools earlier this month that it will temporarily suspend Bylaw 504.M, which prohibits interscholastic competitions on Sundays. Schools now have another day open to make up games postponed because of coronavirus health and safety protocols.

“As a result of the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CIF is temporarily suspending Bylaw 504.M for the remainder of the 2022 winter sports season,” the CIF stated in the memo, adding that practices are still not allowed on Sundays.

“While the provision in Bylaw 504.M prohibiting a school from interscholastic participation (practice and/or games) on seven consecutive 24-hour days is being temporarily suspended, CIF Bylaw 506 (Practice Allowance) remains in effect.”

Several teams from the area have already had to reschedule games, even as Trans-Valley League action is underway for Escalon and Riverbank; Valley Oak League play for Oakdale.

The regular season for winter sports ends early next month. The final contest dates in the Sac-Joaquin Section are Jan. 26 for wrestling team duals, Feb. 5 for league wrestling tournaments, Feb. 4 for soccer, Feb. 11 for basketball.

The CIF previously suspended Bylaw 504.M in late August as football games were getting cancelled in Northern California because of the Caldor and Dixie wildfires.

Jonamar Jacinto is a reporter for The Manteca Bulletin, a sister paper to The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times.