The Illinois High School Association announced its plan for the 2020-21 school year on Wednesday, moving some sports from fall to spring and allowing others to continue as planned with restrictions.
Under the current plan, boys ‘and girls’ golf, girls ‘tennis, cross country and girls’ swimming and diving will remain as fall sports and begin on August 10, as scheduled. Soccer, men’s soccer and women’s volleyball will move from fall to spring, authorities said.
The association announced a “condensed” schedule that includes:
Fall: August 10 to October 24
Winter: From November 16 to February 13
Spring: February 15 to May 1
Summer: May 3 to June 26
- See the full schedule by sport here
“This plan, like almost every aspect of our lives today, remains fluid,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said in a statement Wednesday. “Changes can come, and if they do, we will be agile in putting safety and students first. It was important that we provide a framework today for our student athletes, coaches, administrators, and officials to begin preparing for the 2020-21 school year. “
According to the board, decisions for State Series tournaments “will be made sport by sport as each season progresses.”
“I understand that today’s announcement will run into mixed emotions,” Anderson said. “Our staff and the Board have heard from thousands of people in recent weeks with ideas, opinions and proposals on how we should proceed. We respect and understand your passion, because we share it. It is a great reminder that if we want high school sports to return to normal, we must all do our part to help stop the spread of COVID-19. “
IHSA noted that statutes do not prevent remote learning schools from participating in sports and other activities, but decisions to participate will be made at the school and district levels.
Governor JB Pritzker announced Wednesday that the state “will restrict organized recreational sports for youth and adults,” including school sports, beginning August 15. The restrictions do not include professional or university sports.
Pritzker said each sport will be classified into three “risk levels”: high, medium and low, determined by “the amount of contact between athletes and their proximity during the game.” Still, certain sports may move forward with their fall seasons under the new restrictions.
- See a full breakdown by sport here
“This is not news that anyone wants to hear, but this virus is still dangerous,” Pritzker said during his press conference on Wednesday.
The IHSA had several options to consider, including but not limited to: canceling the fall season entirely, postponing it for winter or spring (condensing the seasons together), or allowing fall sports without contact.
People close to Pritzker had already hinted that fall sports were not likely.
The decision has big implications for high school athletes. For Chicago athletes in particular, the decision weighs heavily, as last year’s fall sports were cut short due to the Chicago Teachers Union strike.
.
