IHSA waives game limitation for 2020-21 season. How will that impact area teams?
The Illinois High School Association Board of Directors on Monday announced an adjustment in its Return to Activities Guidelines which will be welcomed news to coaches and athletes throughout the state.
During its regularly scheduled meeting, the board updated its Return To Activities guidelines by waiving the 2020-21 season limitations for winter, spring, and summer sports that would have restricted those sports to no more than two contests per week.
The winter, spring, and summer seasons will now revert to their normal season game limitations as dictated by IHSA by-laws. In other words, softball, volleyball and baseball teams will be allowed to play as many as 35 regular season games; boys and girls basketball could play as many as 31 games; and boys and girls soccer, wrestling and bowling teams will be allowed to compete on 25 dates.
“We had heard it (waiving the two games a week limitation) was being discussed and so we were certainly hopeful. This is really great news,” Belleville East baseball coach Ryan Wiggs said. “Before we were looking at hopefully playing 16-18 games and while we may not be able to play a 35 game schedule, we’re hopeful of maybe 25-30.
“Of course we will be very careful with our student-athletes. But the decision today is a very positive one in allowing our athletes more of a chance to compete.’’
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said the decision to waive the winter, spring and summer game limitations was based on how well Illinois is handling the pandemic, and the lack of setbacks in the fall sports conducted at this time.
“We have preached that this school year will be fluid, and the changes made by the board today are a good example of that,” Anderson said. “When the IHSA’s initial Return To Activities guidelines were established, the limitation of two contests per week felt like a constraint that would help limit exposure.
“However, given how well our state is handling the pandemic, and the lack of setbacks in the fall sports we have conducted so far, there was a consensus that we could move forward with allowing schools to schedule winter, spring, and summer sports without further restrictions.”
Althoff coach, Masocutah AD pleased with IHSA’s decision
Althoff boys basketball coach Greg Leib said his schedule for the upcoming season has been completed, while adding the announcement Monday was a positive step.
“We have our schedule already complete, but it’s probably good because it gives some schools some flexibility on maybe what teams they can play,” Leib said. “I think it’s a positive step.”
Some athletic directors, such as Mascoutah’s Scott Battas, were caught off guard by the IHSA’s announcement.
“I will be honest and say that I was a little caught off guard when I read the press release this afternoon. It seems as though things have been ever-changing over the last couple months, and understandably so,” Battas said. “While athletic directors across the state are certainly frustrated by yet another change, we do want to do what is best for our student-athletes and or athletic programs.
“Giving them more opportunities and more opponents to lengthen what had become a shortened schedule is certainly a welcome change.
“The timing will make this very challenging but I think I speak for AD’s across the state when I say we will do whatever we need to do to make this happen. It’s certainly not about us, it’s about the kids and the coaches that we serve in our profession and that’s the way we will look at it.”
Breakdown of IHSA’s seasons
The IHSA Board also announced the IHSA’s summer season will begin two weeks earlier than initially announced. With Monday’s modification, summer sports (baseball, softball, track & field, girls soccer, lacrosse, boys tennis) can now begin practices April 19 and games May 3.
The IHSA winter season will run from Nov. 16-Feb. 13 and the spring season from Feb. 15-May 1, followed by the summer season which runs through June 26.
“We understood that when the modified schedule for 2020-21 was released that the summer sport season coaches would take some umbrage with it,” said Anderson. “However, we also knew that summer was the season that we had the most time and flexibility to work with, so we preached patience. We are glad to be able to provide some relief by creating the option to start two weeks earlier.”
Additionally, the Board reviewed a request from Highland High School that sought an exemption to IHSA By-law 3.100, which governs Independent Team Participation.
Highland’s exemption request to IHSA
Highland sought an exemption to the rule during 2020-21 for the sports of volleyball, lacrosse, soccer, baseball, and softball, which would allow student-athletes in those sports to simultaneously participate on their IHSA school team and on a non-school team. The current by-law prevents participation on a school and non-school team at the same time in the same sport. The board elected not to provide an exemption to the rule.
“There was a lengthy and spirited discussion on if we should provide an exemption to this rule given the unprecedented nature of the school year,” said Anderson. “The board understands both sides of the argument and has heard from passionate advocates for each scenario.
“Ultimately, concerns over safety and equity left them uncomfortable with providing an exemption to this rule. They understand it could lead to some difficult decisions between participating on a school or non-school team. Fundamentally, the nature and mission of the IHSA is to provide participation opportunities to all students.
“The board agreed that if a student-athlete chooses to leave their school team for a non-school team, it simply creates an opportunity for another student to step in and fill that role.”
2020-21 high school sports seasons
Boys/girls golf: Fall, Aug. 10-Oct. 24
Girls tennis: Fall, Aug. 10-Oct. 24
Boys/girls cross country: Fall, Aug. 10-Oct. 24
Girls swimming & diving: Fall, Aug. 10-Oct. 24
Boys & girls basketball: Winter, Nov. 16-Feb. 13
Wrestling: Winter, Nov. 16-Feb. 13
Boys swimming & diving: Winter, Nov. 16-Feb. 13
Cheerleading: Winter, Nov. 16-Feb. 13
Dance: Winter, Nov. 16-Feb. 13
Boys/girls bowling: Winter, Nov. 16-Feb. 13
Girls gymnastics: Winter, Nov. 16-Feb. 13
Football: Spring, Feb. 15-May 1
Boys soccer: Spring, Feb. 15-May 1
Girls volleyball: Spring, Feb. 15-May 1
Girls badminton: Spring, Feb. 15-May 1
Boys gymnastics: Spring, Feb. 15-May 1
Boys/girls water polo: Spring, Feb. 15-May 1
Baseball: Summer, May 3-June 26
Softball: Summer, May 3-June 26
Boys/girls track & field: Summer, May 3-June 26
Girls soccer: Summer, May 3-June 26
Boys volleyball: Summer, May 3-June 26
Boys/girls lacrosse: Summer, May 3-June 26
Boys tennis: Summer, May 3-June 26
This story was originally published September 15, 2020 at 9:20 AM.
