Official school sports practices will begin on Dec. 14, and competitions will start two weeks after each sport’s first practice, according to a Central Coast Section sports calendar.

Instead of the usual fall, winter and spring seasons, most fall sports are forming “Season 1,” and winter and spring sports have been consolidated into “Season 2.”

Currently, Season 1 sports are hosting socially distanced workouts in cohorts of 14 to prepare for the official season’s start.

These workouts are not mandatory, and the Palo Alto High School Athletics Department is providing free access to Volt, an app that provides remote workout plans catered to specific sports and activities for those who choose not to attend the in-person practices.

This year, the Athletics Department has partnered with ASB as part of an effort to make the department completely student-run.

Nelson Gifford, Paly’s athletic director, highlighted the importance of the merger during a sports information meeting on Sept. 10.

“Students are now more involved in the decision-making process of athletics, promotional activities and really being able to put their own stamp on what the athletic experience at Paly looks like,” Gifford said.

In addition to a more prominent student-leadership voice, the ASB merger will change the way team budgets are fixed.

“Before, the budget was set by the coaches, Sports Boosters and the athletics department; now in ASB, students have to be involved,” Gifford said.

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