IHSA Modifies Phase 4 Return To Play Guidelines

The IHSA received approval from the Illinois Department of Health on July 5th to move to the next phase of the Return to Play Guidelines. Since that announcement, two members of the Quincy Notre Dame football team and several athletes from Lake Zurich High School in the Chicago-area and Du Quoin High School in the Southern part of the state have tested positive for the coronavirus. Due to an increase in positive cases of COVID-19 among high school teams around the state, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are jointly collaborating to modify the IHSA’s Phase 4 Return To Play Guidelines. On Thursday, the IHSA issued a set of modified guidelines for schools, coaches, and athletes. The modifications place greater restrictions on coaches and student-athletes in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Important changes include limiting physical contact and an increased usage of masks. The former restricts schools from conducting contests against other schools in most sports, including 7-on-7 in football and summer league basketball contests. The IHSA is working with IDPH to update the guidelines, and will send to its membership, the media, and post on the IHSA website as soon as they are approved.