IHSA Unveils Slates for 2020-2021 Seasons

The Illinois High School Association has determined when high school sports competitions in Illinois will begin for the remainder of the 2020-21 academic year. Schools in EMS Regions under Tier 1 or Tier 2 mitigation levels can begin winter sports as soon as possible.
 
According to the new IHSA schedule, once a school’s region reaches a level to practice, contests for winter sports can be scheduled upon the team meeting a minimum of seven practice days. IHSA winter sports include basketball, bowling, badminton, competitive cheerleading, competitive dance, boys’ swimming and diving, and girls’ gymnastics.

Regions must be in phase four to begin basketball, which is among the activities categorized as high risk.
 
Dates when practices can start for spring and summer sports range from March 1 to April 19, depending on the sport. Traditional fall sports of girls’ volleyball, boys’ soccer, and football were moved to the spring season for this school year. Contests can be held after seven practices with the exception of football, which won’t begin games until March 19.
 
All IHSA athletic activities were on pause for schools in regions under Tier 3 or Tier 4 mitigation levels. Recent announcements to move regions to Tier 2 or Tier 1 mitigations opened the door for more schools to begin winter sports practices.
 
It is important for boards of education to be aware of the schedule modifications and how they may impact local decisions. IASB encourages board members to share and discuss this information with their administrators.
 
Additional information related to COVID-19 is available on the IHSA website. Updated sports safety guidance issued by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) pertains to school-based sports.