IHSA board approves State Series for traditional spring sports, increases fan capacity in outdoor sports
More high school sport fans will be able to watch outdoor sports in the spring months.
The Illinois High School Assoc. (IHSA) said Monday that the IDPH is allowing 20% capacity for outdoor sports, up from 50 people total in Regions in Phase 4 mitigations.
This does not change capacity for indoor sports at this time.
The Board approved a recommendation to approve dates and parameters for an IHSA State Series in traditional spring sports that include Badminton, Baseball, Softball, Bass Fishing, Boy Gymnastics, Boys Tennis, Boys Volleyball, Girls Soccer, Journalism, Boys & Girls Lacrosse, Boys & Girls Track & Field, and Boys & Girls Water Polo. All tournaments are currently expected to conduct all rounds of competition, including a State Final.
Boys’ volleyball and boys’ and girls’ lacrosse cannot conduct State Finals under current IDPH mitigations, however, the Board approved plans to host State Finals in both sports in hopes that mitigation changes will allow for it by that time.
State Final qualifiers in some individual sports may be modified to better meet gathering mitigations.
The State Series guidelines will be posted online and shared with coaches and school personnel later this week.
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said, “We are eager to inform our coaches of the mitigation guidance so they can better prepare for their upcoming seasons and we plan to get detailed information out to them soon. However, this decision came with some trepidation from the IHSA Board of Directors. There are several instances where the current IDPH mitigations give us pause. The Board wants to move forward for the overall good of IHSA student-athletes, however, they ask that we remain diligent in our staff efforts to have IDPH reconsider certain mitigation guidelines. The IHSA has been a national leader in risk mitigation throughout our 100-plus year history and have adapted our scope to include safety against COVID-19. It is imperative that the expertise from our Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and staff must be heeded.”
