Principal Rita Menezes confirmed on Monday that Ceres High School site administration opted to suspend football conditioning for a period of two weeks following a violation of COVID-19 safety protocols.

“Students were allowed to pass a football between them, which is counter to guidance from CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) and CDPH (California Department of Public Health),” Ceres Unified School District Communications Specialist Beth Jimenez said. “This followed a meeting in which coaches were asked to be particularly vigilant, with positivity rates on the rise in Stanislaus County.”

Ceres High School head football coach Clinton Goblirsch couldn’t be reached for comment.

“The site did the right thing in taking whatever measures are necessary to ensure those protocols are followed,” Jimenez said.

The two-week suspension ended on Monday as Bulldog players resumed conditioning drills and individual skill work at the school.

Student-athletes were required to wear masks when arriving and leaving campus.

Social distancing was also practiced.

Practices were staged on Monday, Tuesday and today, from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

High school sports teams throughout California are no longer permitted to use their respective schools’ weight rooms due to a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. 

Stanislaus County was moved back into the Purple Tier under the state’s color-coded coronavirus reopening system on Nov. 13.

“Now, everything has to be done outside,” Ceres High athletic director John Bussard said. “No indoor activities at all. Of course, it’s disappointing. But it is what it is. We’re not in the boat alone.”