The rapidly-spreading coronavirus (COVID-19) that has rocked stock markets and caused havoc in several countries has now hit the high school soccer scene in the U.S.

The San Francisco Chronicle and Chico Enterprise-Record reported this week that top-seeded Lowell (Calif.) girls soccer team forfeited its CIF NorCal regional semifinal match as a precaution after a parent of a student at the school was being treated for coronavirus. 

The Enterprise-Record article contained a statement from the San Francisco Unified School District saying that, "out of an abundance of caution and for the safety and well-being of our community, we decided to close the school and all events and gatherings for the time being."

It was an unfortunate blow to the girls soccer team, which was aiming for a second straight CIF NorCal regional title. 

In Washington, news broke Friday that the Edmonds School District was shutting down activities until April 12. The Edmonds News offered the most detailed reporting of the situation, which could result in the spring-playing boys soccer teams having their regular-season schedule cut in half. The high school spring season in that area was supposed to start next week. By extension, the cancellations will affect a number of non-Edmonds School District schools, as well, since the early part of those regular-season contests are non-league matches against programs from other districts. 

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