Illinois High School Association is prepared to delay the start of the 2020-21 high school sports season. Executive Director Craig Anderson told state athletic directors the news during a weekly email to ADs.
“If we remain limited in our ability to offer all of our fall sports this fall, we are considering a schedule that would permit all 3 seasons of sport activity to be conducted during the 2020-21 school year.” Anderson said in the email. “We have received numerous emails from school administrators requesting this model to play out. This idea remains a priority for our staff and board. We are considering virtual competitions for many of our activities.”
Earlier this week, board of directors meetings were postponed till after IHSA officials met with IDPH and ISBE, set for this Friday.
“The special board of directors’ meeting scheduled for (Wednesday) has been postponed until July 29, 2020,” Anderson said in the statement. “The reason for the postponement is two-fold. First, to date we continue to have incomplete information from IDPH and the Governor’s office on what plans/limitations will exist for the fall sports time period. Second, two members of our board of directors will join me in a virtual roundtable with representatives of IDPH and ISBE on Friday, July 24 to help us gain more information on the circumstances surrounding a return to activities.”
High School Sports camps began earlier this month and hit a snag after IHSA revised its Phase 4 plan to include wearing masks indoors when practicing. The new guidelines also did not allow contact drills.
An announcement of some kind is expected on Friday from all three organizations on the fall 2020 high school sports season.
