The Illinois High School Association’s Board of Directors recently voted to continue with a delayed fall sports season, despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker raising the risk level of such activities, a move that leaves school districts making the final decision. | Unsplash
The Illinois High School Association’s Board of Directors recently voted to continue with a delayed fall sports season, despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker raising the risk level of such activities, a move that leaves school districts making the final decision. | Unsplash
The Illinois High School Association’s (IHSA) Board of Directors recently responded with a vote to continue as planned after Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s sudden change in how high school sports such as basketball are classified for purposes of COVID-19.
Yet, the ultimate fate of high school sports this season remains uncertain, with the board of directors stating its intent to follow the recommendations of its own Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, according to coverage by Patch.
In response to the IHSA decision, Pritzker insisted that his sudden change of classifying basketball and other sports as high-risk rather than medium-risk follows the advice of an unnamed-yet-overwhelming group of medical professionals.
Montini Catholic Boys Basketball head coach Adam DeMong
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In August, and following the guidelines that had been published by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)regarding high school basketball being considered a “medium-risk” activity, the IHSA had decided to run Illinois’ basketball season from November through February.
When Pritzker decided to issue an edict changing the rules in October, the IHSA Board of Directors voted against going along with his decision, according to Patch.
The IHSA Board indicated that it was leaving the decision whether or not to participate in the season up to individual schools, with the expectation that schools that are still learning remotely in response to risk levels in their communities will bow out, according to Patch.
Montini Catholic Boys Basketball head coach, Adam DeMong, told the Will County Gazette that he is encouraged by the IHSA Board of Directors’ decision.
“I am pleasantly surprised that the IHSA decided to ignore Governor Pritzker’s order,” DeMong told the Will County Gazette, “With that being said, I think it’s still an uphill battle to have a season.”
DeMong said that his school still plans to be prepared to start practices on Monday, Nov. 16, following the guidelines that have been in place for months in an effort to ensure sports do not provide a high-risk of coronavirus transmission.
“We will be ready to follow all guidelines to ensure a safe environment for the athletes, as we have been for contact days this fall,” DeMong told the Will County Gazette.
DeMong said that they are prepared for a season, but also prepared to adapt if needed.
“Our program is hopeful that we will be able to have some sort of a season this year,” he told the Will County Gazette.
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