IHSA Provides update ahead of board meeting

Photo courtesy IHSA Facebook

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors provided updates related to the basketball season ahead of their board meeting next Thursday.

The Board announced that they are formally inviting representatives from Governor Pritzker’s Office and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to attend the IHSA Board meeting on November 19. Other organizations that have worked in contact with the governor regarding high school sports are also welcome to attend.

“The Board hopes to create a dialogue and build a more collaborative relationship with all the entities involved with developing sports policy in our state as everyone tries to navigate the myriad issues caused by the pandemic,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “The Board’s decision to move forward with the IHSA basketball season was not meant to be adversarial. It was rooted in a desire to receive more direct communication and data from our state partners. They hope all the groups will see the mutual benefit of increased discourse and be represented at the meeting on November 19.”

The Board also announced that schools planning to begin basketball practice on Monday, Nov. 16 should adhere to the Level 1 mitigations from the IDPH All Sports Policy until at least Thursday, Nov. 19. The Board cited rising COVID-19 cases in the state and a recent membership survey for this recommendation.

Among the 546 schools that responded to the survey (IHSA has 813 member schools), nearly 300 IHSA schools do not plan to start basketball on November 16, and another 212 schools remain unsure of their status.

The Board plans to provide more direction on basketball practice and games following the meeting on Thursday, Nov. 19.