BLOOMINGTON — The Illinois High School Association announced Tuesday that is has canceled all spring state tournaments.
The decision comes on the heels of Friday’s announcement by Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education that the rest of the 2019-20 school year will be completed from home via e-learning.
From the IHSA release, “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 also suspended summer contact days, but left open the option of lifting those restrictions and even the possibility of playing some spring athletic events this summer. The Board would only reconsider those options if state government and medical leaders indicate such gatherings are safe. “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.”
The IHSA says it will continue to monitor the state briefings and update schools accordingly.
“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.”
The IHSA offers 14 spring sports and activities. In this region, those sports and activities include Baseball, Softball, Boys and Girls Track and Field, Girls Soccer, Boys Tennis, and Bass Fishing.
For the entire release, click here.