IHSA Cancels Spring Sports Tournaments Due To Coronavirus

BLOOMINGTON, IL — At a meeting conducted over videoconference Tuesday, the board members of the Illinois High School Association decided to cancel state tournaments for all spring sports and suspend any planned summer activities, the organization announced. The IHSA board's vote followed Friday's announcement from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education that high school campuses would remain shuttered through the end of the the school year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said the board supported the decision by the governor and board of education. He said it would have been logistically impossible to hold tournaments that meet the expectations of member schools.

"As disappointing as it may be for students, it is the right decision for their health and safety, as well as for the health and safety of the general public, as we cope with this unprecedented pandemic," Anderson said in a statement announcing the decision.

Canceled spring sports state tournaments include:

• Badminton, girls
• Gymnastics, boys
• Bass fishing
• Track and field, boys and girls
• Water Polo, boys and girls
• Soccer, girls
• Tennis, boys
• Lacrosse, boys and girls
• Volleyball, boys
• Baseball
• Softball

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In addition to spring tournaments, the board decided to suspend any summer contact days pending updated advice from state government and public health officials. But the IHSA also left open the possibility of allowing contact in the summer — or even a limited number of spring sports events should the state give the go-ahead. No students would be restricted from any such events because of their involvement with a non-school team, according to Anderson.

As of Wednesday, more than 32,000 people had signed a petition started by parents after school closures were announced last month. It calls for IHSA to modify its schedule to extend into the summer in order to give student athletes in spring sports a chance to participate in a potential partial season.

Anderson said student athletes in Illinois were exposed to life lessons in overcoming adversity that are more applicable than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said he hoped all efforts are directed at supporting essential workers including nurses, doctors and emergency personnel who risk their safety at work to protect the public.

"Our thoughts right now are with all the impacted students, coaches and communities. Especially the seniors," Anderson said. "It will be difficult for them to find a silver lining in all of this, but we stress that even if they don't get the chance to compete again at the high school level, they are better for having been a part of their respective high school teams."