We all have been on pins and needles even after our border states started to cancel their seasons. It felt like a remand for a lack of a better word. Indiana pulled the plug on their seasons several weeks ago followed by Michigan, Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, Wisconsin, and finally us. It was inevitable but we held out hope that things would change. It was the right decision of course as we all fight a pandemic, but the pain still hurts immensely and intensively.
To the student-athletes and their coaches and extended sports family, it has been very difficult navigating through these tough times and challenges. Moreover, if there is a silver lining in the clouds, you all will rise and shine again. Until the next time we meet, stay safe and protect one another.
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OFFICIAL STATE FROM THE IHSA:
IHSA Member School Administrators,
I apologize, as I realize my desire to get you the news quickly earlier this morning contributed to more confusion than clarity for some. Below is the official statement on the IHSA Board action from this morning, which I hope better indicates what occurred and will occur moving forward. Again, please share with your coaches...
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for their
April meeting via a video conference call on Tuesday, April 21, where the Board
of Directors announced its decision to cancel all IHSA spring state
tournaments. The decision to cancel the spring state tournaments comes in
conjunction with Friday's (April 17) announcement by Governor Pritzker and the
Illinois State Board of Education that all Illinois high schools will complete
the 2019-20 school term from home via e-learning.
"We support the decision by Governor Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of
Education, and given the logistics, we simply felt we could not conduct state
tournaments that meet the expectations of our member schools this spring, "
said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. "As disappointing as it may be for
students, it is the right decision for their health and safety, as well as for
the health and safety of the general public, as we cope with this unprecedented
pandemic."
The IHSA offers state tournaments in the following sports and activities in the
spring: Girls Badminton, Boys Gymnastics, Bass Fishing, Boys & Girls Track
& Field, Boys & Girls Water Polo, Girls Soccer, Boys Tennis, Boys &
Girls Lacrosse, Boys Volleyball, Baseball, and Softball.
The Board also determined that summer contact days are suspended for this year,
unless state government and medical leaders indicate such gatherings are
safe. At that time, the Board indicated a willingness to reconsider how
summer contact might be conducted and whether opportunities for schools to
conduct some kind of spring athletic events might occur.
"Once it is determined safe to return, we will provide a detailed outline to
our schools on the plan for summer contact days and possibly some kind of
spring athletic events," said Anderson. "Including if the number of days and
dates that coaches can meet with athletes has been altered. At this
point, though, all that is dependent upon state government and medical leaders
giving the go ahead for such."
"Our thoughts right now are with all the impacted students, coaches and
communities. Especially the seniors," said Anderson. "It will be difficult for
them to find a silver lining in all of this, but we stress that even if they
don't get the chance to compete again at the high school level, they are better
for having been a part of their respective high school teams. By participating
in high school sports and activities, they were exposed to life lessons in
teamwork, leadership, and overcoming adversity that are difficult to replicate
elsewhere. The latter is applicable now more than ever. We hope that we can
band together and refocus all our efforts on supporting the doctors, nurses,
first responders, and all the other essential personnel who are putting their
health and safety on the line each day to keep us safe."
The IHSA will continue to communicate with and monitor briefings from state
officials, and based on those timelines, provide updates to its member schools
as it relates to potential spring participation and summer contact days.
"The possibility of playing a spring sport game this summer is about closure,"
said Anderson. "If we are able to offer this opportunity, no student-athlete
would be restricted by having already practiced or competed with a non-school
team."