On July 29th, the IHSA postponed the fall sports seasons for football, girls volleyball and boys soccer to a spring schedule. Yesterday, the IHSA announced when those normal fall sport athletes, among other sports, will be able to begin practicing in some way, shape or form. Each Illinois high school will have 20 “contact days”, or practices, to use between September 7th and October 31st. What is allowed during those 38 days is dependent upon whether the sport is classified as a low, medium or high risk activity.
Low-risk sports such as baseball, softball, bowling, tennis, swimming and diving and track & field, are allowed to intrasquad scrimmage, while medium-risk sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball and padless 7 on 7 football are allowed to intrasquad scrimmage, with parental consent. High-risk sports such as football and wrestling can only conduct contactless drills.
The IHSA wanted to make sure that it was know that any participation from student/athletes during contact days was completely voluntary and optional. Open gyms will not count as a contact day but normal IHSA open gym rules, such as no coach’s instruction, will still be in place. Students and coaches are required to wear masks for contact days conducted indoors. Masks are required outdoors as well, but not when those involved are socially distant or taking part in a “strenuous activity.”
Here’s a link to the full set of rules….
