IHSA Releases Sport-Specific Guidelines For Fall Athletics

BLOOMINGTON, IL — Following last week's major announcement that football, boys soccer and girls volleyball are all moving to the spring 2021 season, the Illinois High School Association released Friday specific considerations and recommendations for the remaining fall sports. Golf (boys and girls), girls tennis, cross-country (boys and girls) and girls swimming and diving are all scheduled to officially start season activities on Monday in Illinois.

On July 29, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced new COVID-19 related restrictions on youth sports in the state — including at the high school level — that were broken into risk levels depending on the competition. The news came as the IHSA was meeting to discuss the future of the fall sports season.

In response, the decision was made to move sports considered higher risk under Pritzker's guidelines to the spring. Seasons have also been shortened to accommodate and allow as many games as possible to be completed.

The condensed 2020-21 season dates will be as follows, according to the IHSA:

Fall (Aug. 10-Oct. 24)
Winter (Nov. 16-Feb. 13)
Spring (Feb. 15-May 1)
Summer (May 3-June 26)

"This plan, like nearly every aspect of our current lives, remains fluid," IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said last week. "Changes may come, and if they do, we will be agile while putting safety and students first. It was important that we provide a framework today for our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and officials to begin preparing for the 2020-21 school year."

Pritzker Places Restrictions On Youth Sports, IHSA Responds

Below is a breakdown of some sport-specific considerations and recommendations released on Friday.

BOYS AND GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY

• Season ends Oct. 24 with or without a state series. Currently, State Series events are To Be Determined in order to ensure that the events can be conducted safely and in accordance with the Governor’s Restore Illinois Guidelines.
• Social distancing between individuals of at least 6 feet must be maintained at all times. Handshakes, fist bumps, hugging, etc. are not permissible.
• Race Capacity — Student participants, coaches, timers, and paid/volunteer meet officials are restricted to a combined total of 50 per race.
• Spectators are permitted at meets as long as they maintain social distancing throughout the event as outlined in the IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 Guidelines.
• Multi-team Meets — If schools have scheduled large meets such as invitationals or anything larger than a triangular, then again, hosts must ensure that ALL event attendees are held to the capacity guidelines outlined in IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 as well as this document (i.e. combined total of no more than 50 student participants, coaches, officials, and timers per race).

Find the complete list of considerations and recommendations for boys and girls cross-country here.

BOYS AND GIRLS GOLF

• Season ends Oct. 24 with or without a state series. Currently, State Series events are To Be Determined in order to ensure that the events can be conducted safely and in accordance with the Governor’s Restore Illinois Guidelines.
• Social distancing between individuals of at least 6 feet must be maintained at all times. Handshakes, fist bumps, hugging, etc. are not permissible.
• Student participants, coaches, and officials are restricted to a combined total of 50 per wave. A wave is defined as an individual group of 50 (golfers, coaches, officials, and volunteers)
• Hosts can have multiple waves at an invitational as long as the waves are completely spaced out so that they don’t intermingle.
• Spectators are permitted at events as long as they maintain social distancing throughout the event as outlined in the IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 Guidelines.
• Masks — Players are not required to wear cloth face coverings, but may do so if they desire, particularly when not able to maintain social distancing. If an individual would like to wear a mask on the playing course or in a meeting, they may do so. There is no prohibition on the color of the mask.
• Players licking fingers — If a golfer touches their mouth, practice is stopped and the player must sanitize their hands. Players should only touch and use their own golf ball and not touch other players golf ball or equipment. Players are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer.
• Player habits – Coaches should now work to create new habits including staying away from touching their face, not allowing sunflower seeds and not spitting. Do not touch the flagstick or bunker rakes, nor other player’s equipment or golf balls.
• Hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes — Players are encouraged to provide their own hand sanitizer and/or sanitizing wipes. It is recommended to use hand sanitizer before and after each round and when going out to, and coming in from, the course. Additionally, emphasize to all to avoid touching their face.

Find the complete list of considerations and recommendations for boys and girls golf here.

GIRLS SWIMMING AND DIVING

• Social distancing between individuals of at least 6 feet must be maintained at all times. Handshakes, fist bumps, hugging, etc. are not permissible.
• Meet Capacity — Student participants, coaches, timers, paid/volunteer meet officials, spectators, and media are restricted to a combined total of 50 people inside of a natatorium.
• Spectators— If meet hosts allow spectators, they must wear facial coverings and maintain 6 feet social distance at all times.
• Small meets (i.e. duals) are most effective in maintaining fewer competitors, school personnel, officials, and spectators. Small meets make it easier to space those in attendance to the appropriate social distancing. Small meets must adhere to the event capacity guidelines outlined in IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 as well as those outlined in this document.
• Multi-team Meets — If schools have scheduled large meets such as invitationals or anything larger than a dual, then again, hosts must ensure that ALL event attendees are held to the capacity guidelines outlined in IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 as well as this document (i.e. Student participants, coaches, timers, paid/volunteer meet officials, spectators, and media are restricted to a combined total of 50 people inside of a natatorium).
• Increase water sanitation level, i.e. keep chlorine closer to 2.0 PPM.
• Eliminate the use of low ventilated spaces and rooms that prevent social distancing, such as locker rooms and small dryland rooms. Eliminate the use of lockers whenever possible.
• Watches, clip boards, and lap-counters should be sanitized after each use. Touchpads should be sanitized periodically while out of the water. Diving boards and backstroke flags should be sanitized periodically.
• On deck during meets — Only essential personnel are permitted on the deck. These are defined as swimmers/divers, coaches, athletic trainers, lifeguards and officials. Authorized timers, recorders, runners, computer operators necessary to conduct competition are essential. All others, i.e., team managers, video people, media photographers, family members, non-competing students, etc. are considered non-essential personnel and are to be in the gallery remaining in the seating area (when present) or remaining outside the deck area.
• Locker Rooms should be used as little as possible.
• Athletes should wear swimming suits to practice and competitions to limit use of locker rooms.
• In order for the sport of swimming and diving to maintain an IDPH status of low risk, there cannot be relays at this time.

Find the complete list of considerations and recommendations for girls swimming and diving here.

GIRLS TENNIS

• Currently, State Series events are To Be Determined to ensure that the events can be conducted safely and in accordance with the Governor’s Restore Illinois Guidelines. The IHSA will make every effort to conduct some form of a State Series event and will announce decisions related to this as they become available.
• Social distancing between individuals of at least 6 feet must always be maintained. Handshakes, fist bumps, hugging, etc. are not permissible.
• Student participants, coaches, and athletic trainers, managers, officials if applicable, etc… are restricted to a combined total of 50 participants per event.
• Spectators are permitted at events provided they maintain social distancing throughout the entire event as outlined in the IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 Guidelines.
• Hosts should establish team areas that allow for teams to space at least 30 feet apart while maintaining social distancing within their own team’s area.
• Face coverings must be worn by anyone not actively competing.
• Gates should be roped off or left open to avoid touching.
• If possible, alternating courts should be reserved for play if there is no barrier, such as fencing, between the courts.
• Tennis Balls — Practice caution with the tennis balls and avoid letting the participants touch them. Try to restrict balls to a certain group, court, or day of the week by labeling them with a permanent marker.
• Replace all balls if someone suspected to have COVID-19 is in contact with them.
• Consider spraying tennis balls briefly with a disinfectant spray (e.g., Lysol or Clorox) at the conclusion of play.
• Using new balls on a very regular basis is highly encouraged.
• Match play — If possible, tennis players should each use a new can of balls for a match, different brands or same brand/different numbers and only serve with your tennis balls.
• Other Tennis Equipment – Items should be touched only by the specific coach or specific player and should be cleaned frequently. Avoid using unnecessary equipment. Live ball drills and game-based play is recommended. If using ball tubes and basket pickups to pick up loose balls after a practice/ball machine rotation be aware to limit contact and sanitize accordingly. Use alcohol-based disinfectant to clean all tennis gear, including racquets, towels, target cones, ball machines, etc. Rackets and towels should not be shared.

Find the complete list of considerations and recommendations for girls tennis here.

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