CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois’ handling of the pandemic is prompting the IHSA to change one of its COVID-related guidelines for student-athletes.
The Illinois High School Association board of directors met virtually Monday and approved several updates to the IHSA Return To Activities guidelines, while also providing guidance on the IHSA's independent team participation rule for the 2020-21 school year.
The IHSA’s original Return to Activities guidelines included a limit on the number of games that could be played per week by athletes in winter, spring, and summer sports: two contests per week. Now, the IHSA has decided to lift that limit, and revert to its normal pre-COVID guidelines on the number of games.
"We have preached that this school year will be fluid, and the changes made by the board today are a good example of that," IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson told the Daily Herald. "When the IHSA's initial Return To Activities guidelines were established, the limitation of two contests per week felt like a constraint that would help limit exposure. However, given how well our state is handling the pandemic, and the lack of setbacks in the fall sports we have conducted so far, there was a consensus that we could move forward with allowing schools to schedule winter, spring, and summer sports without further restrictions."
The IHSA is also beginning its summer season next year two weeks earlier than initially planned. Summer sports, including baseball, softball, track & field, girls soccer, lacrosse, and boys tennis, can now begin practices on April 19 and games on May 3.
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Although though changes were made, the IHSA is not changing its long-standing rule against playing a high school sport and similar club sport at the same time.
"There was a lengthy and spirited discussion on if we should provide an exemption to this rule given the unprecedented nature of the school year," Anderson said. "The board understands both sides of the argument and has heard from passionate advocates for each scenario. Ultimately, concerns over safety and equity left them uncomfortable with providing an exemption to this rule. They understand it could lead to some difficult decisions between participating on a school or non-school team. Fundamentally, the nature and mission of the IHSA is to provide participation opportunities to all students. The board agreed that if a student-athlete chooses to leave their school team for a non-school team, it simply creates an opportunity for another student to step in and fill that role."
The IHSA will also look next month at a request from several wrestling coaches to move the wrestling season from winter to May of 2021.