IHSA Releases Winter Sports Mitigation Considerations, Pritzker Responds to IHSA

The IHSA has posted mitigation considerations for 7 High School sports for the 2020-21 Seasons. 

Each of the sports has a multi-page document associated with it.  For example, for basketball, the guidelines "are intended to decrease potential exposure to respiratory droplets and potential for illness through safe practices such as social distancing, proper hygiene, and appropriate protective equipment. This is not an exhaustive list, and school officials may take additional measures based on requirements set forth by their school district and/or local health officials. Please understand that even with this guidance, there is still a risk of transmitting illness at events such as basketball practice and contests. Additionally, with the changing nature of the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, these guidelines may change."

A snippet of the mitigation consideration for high school basketball

Items covered in the basketball document include:  competitions within the IDPH Covid-19 region and in conference, total gym capacity of 50 people all wearing masks, ball sanitizing, bench extensions, jump-ball eliminations, and even officials' whistles.  Practice for boys and girls basketball may begin on November 16, with the first games on November 30.  The season would officially end on February 13, with the possibility of a 'post-season event' held the week before. 

The full documents for each sport are available by clicking the links below.

Basketball:  click here

Bowling:  click here

Cheerleading:   click here

Dance:  click here

Girls Gymnastics:  click here

Boys Swimming & Diving:   click here

Governor Pritzker responded to the IHSA during the daily COVID-19 press briefing. 

Speaking on the "high-risk" winter sports that IHSA plans to move forward with, Pritzker said, "we've asked that they be moved into the spring, some later in the spring. What we're trying to do is get to a point where positivity levels are much lower, where the number of cases in our state are much lower, and, where I hope and pray, we will have much better treatments and vaccines available. It's the high-risk sports where we've asked that there be limitations, just for the time being."

IHSA's Matt Troha said Thursday that neither the Governor's office or IDPH has reached out to them since Tuesday.