IHSA meeting on Oct. 28 to give details on winter sports
The Illinois High School Association has announced it will host a special board meeting to discuss details about how winter sports will proceed.
The meeting is set for Oct. 28.
"We understand that student-athletes, coaches, parents, officials, and fans are anxious to learn more details about the plans for IHSA winter sports," said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson.
"We feel like we are making positive strides in our discussions with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to be allowed to conduct IHSA winter sports as scheduled. We believe we have a plan to do so safely and want to provide IDPH with ample time to review the winter sports plans, and supportive data, we have provided them. We expect to have a response from IDPH with final recommendations for winter sport plans, including any accommodations and postseason plans, by October 26."
The IHSA board also voted to provide a one-time accommodation to the Independent Team By-Law (3.100) in some sports.
The accommodation will the applicable for the 2020-21 school year and will grant specific exemptions to spring and summer sports. Winter sports, which are expected to remain in their traditional season, will have no accommodation.
"The Board determined it was prudent to make modifications to the independent team by-law for the sports that were displaced from their traditional high school season," said Anderson.
"They also came up with what we believe is a reasonable compromise for summer sports. The Board is hopeful that the high school teams will be given priority when conflicts occurs. We believe making a modification now will allow high school coaches and non-school team coaches to begin communication on how they can collaboratively resolve scheduling conflicts."
Sports competing in the 2021 spring season, including football, boys soccer and girls volleyball, will be granted the accommodation to participate on school teams and non-school teams at the same time throughout the season.
Sports competing in the summer season will receive the same accommodation beginning June 4. The summer season is scheduled from April 19 through June 26.