By FRED KRONER
In a move as shockingly swift as the shutdown which took place in March when the coronavirus pandemic began to grip the nation, school sports in Illinois returned on Friday.
The rapid turnabout took many people by surprise.
Mahomet-Seymour athletic director Matt Hensley put the announcement by Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health in perspective.
“We’re a week removed from not being able to practice,” Hensley said. “I thought we would see movement, but not that much.
“This is more than what most people expected.”
Pritzker and the IDPH cleared the way for the resumption of high school and junior high school athletic competition for schools located in regions that have reached Phase 4.
That encompasses all of the school districts in Champaign County and most in Central Illinois.
Even high-risk sports, such as basketball, football and wrestling have been green-lighted to compete in conference contests as well as within their state-assigned regions.
Moderate-risk sports have the same opportunities, but additionally can participate in tournaments.
“I was surprised it happened like it did so quickly,” St. Joseph-Ogden athletic director Justin Franzen said. “Last week at this time, we were not looking at this as a possibility.”
The actual return to competition won’t happen quite as fast.
“We still have a ways to go,” Franzen said. “Guidelines need to be finalized and we have to understand how to fine-tune everything before we can get going.”
That won’t happen for a few days. The IHSA Board of Directors will meet again on Wednesday (Jan 27) and, among other tasks, will be to set the parameters on seasons for the many sports that have been on hold.
According to the announcement from Pritzker and the IDPH, schools will need 12 practices before they can participate in a game. For basketball teams that begin workouts on Monday (Jan. 25), they could theoretically play a game on Monday (Feb. 8).
Sunday practices are not allowed by the IHSA.
The IHSA, however, will need to extend the timeline for the current season for winter sports. Basketball is currently scheduled to end on Saturday (Feb. 13).
“Monday, we will start practices for boys and girls in basketball,” Oakwood AD John Odle said, “so we can get our 12 practices in and hopefully start (games) on Feb 8th.”
At M-S, a parent meeting for boys’ swimming will take place on Monday with practices starting on Tuesday. Hensley has already started scheduling swim meets.
For the most part, however, area athletic directors remain in limbo.
“My head is spinning with all of the changes that have occurred since Monday,” Heritage AD Lori Archer said. “I’m still trying to process everything. And, I have to admit that I am overwhelmed again.”
Games can not yet be scheduled – meaning officials can’t yet be hired – until a firm start date and an end date have been established.
“Until the IHSA comes out with something definitively, we’re in a holding pattern,” Odle said. “We’re ready to get things going.”
In some cases, high schools and junior high schools will be competing against one another for facilities and officials.
“The big thing is, do you have enough space to get everything in?” Odle wondered.
Hensley said M-S won’t necessarily be at an advantage by virtue of having access to the fieldhouse which is adjacent to the high school gymnasium.
“I’m not sure it would be the wisest to hold multiple events at the same time,” Hensley said. “Our priority is to keep students and athletes safe.
“We need to get everything cleaned by the next day. We use the fieldhouse, the commons and the gym as lunch room spaces. We have to use those spaces to socially distance.”
Athletes will be required to wear masks, both for indoor and outdoor sports. Spectators, who must also be masked, will be limited to 50 per event, though schools can decide to be more restrictive.
Archer is anxious to get the ball rolling.
“There are still so many questions that need to be answered and I hate the waiting and uncertainty,” she said. “I’m a planner and feel helpless until the IHSA comes out with more information/guidance.
“At this point there isn’t anything any of us can do until we hear from the IHSA.”
Exactly what the IHSA will decide is pure speculation.
“In December, there was talk (especially among groups in public) about three back-to-back-to-back seven-week seasons,” Franzen said. “That can’t happen now (due to the number of weeks remaining in the school year).”
Franzen is not a fan of scheduling deep into the summer break.
“It’s important for all activities to get their summer contact days (in preparation for the 2021-22 school year),” he said.
Once all sports have been slotted into a given time period by the IHSA, conference ADs will meet to work out details of scheduling league contests in order to determine conference championships.
The IHSA has yet to announce whether there will be any postseason competition for any sports for the rest of the 2020-21 school year.
Hensley believes there is sufficient time remaining for competition seasons of about five weeks for basketball/boys’ swimming/wrestling/dance/cheerleading followed by football/volleyball/boys’ soccer and then ending with baseball/softball/track/girls’ soccer/boys’ tennis.
“There’s clearly work to be done,” Hensley said, “but it’s good work and work that will have a reward for our kids at the end. Now there is a realistic chance to get the sports in.”
The IHSA had previously said no sports competition would be permitted beyond the end of June. The three five-week seasons – preceded by two weeks of practice or acclimation – would carry the sports season into mid-June, without overlapping.
Franzen is going to avoid any premature conjecture.
“I don’t want to send anything out to players or coaches until we know for sure,” Franzen said.
At the junior high level, volleyball for girls and basketball for boys are likely to be the first sports to return.
All of the area ADs are in agreement that the positive is the opportunity that awaits the teen-aged athletes.
“We’ve been waiting for a while,” Franzen said. “I’m excited to watch the kids compete and the coaches coach.”
Except for a brief respite in the fall when cross-country, golf, girls’ swimming and girls’ tennis were held at the high school level with baseball and softball competing at the junior high level, most school sports have been on a hiatus for 10 months.
“They have been waiting for nearly a year to hear that we can play sports again,” Archer said. “They need to get back to some normalcy and some semblance of what high school sports are all about.
“It will be good to see them on the court and fields again.”
Odle is optimistic about the changes that are on the horizon.
“We’ve been waiting for this, but didn’t think it was going to happen,” he said. “Now, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and we’re excited.
“A lot of players have been playing (basketball) in Indiana. They will be excited to be back in their own gym and doing things as a team. It will be great for them to start working together and forming those relationships again.”
The key, Hensley said, is to not become complacent.
“People have to be patient,” Hensley said. “It’s a great opportunity for our kids, and a special opportunity for kids who are seniors, but we have to make sure that everyone does their part so we remain in Phase 4.
“We want to keep trending in the right direction.”
