On the heels of the IHSA’s announcement of low-risk winter sports being able to play games inter-scholastically and high-risk sports being able to begin practicing, the organization that runs junior high sports in Illinois, the IESA, announced their intentions, as well.
Medium-risk sports such as volleyball may conduct practices and intra-squad scrimmages may be conducted with parental consent in Tier 2 region counties. Most all of our listening area counties fall in Tier 2. High-risk sports, such as boys basketball, may conduct non-contact practices. No intra-squad scrimmages or contests may be conducted. IESA Girls Basketball practice/tryout is scheduled to begin March 8.
Any Illinois county that is still under Tier 3 Mitigations still have all of their sports on pause.
The IESA Board of Directors will be meeting on January 29th to discuss how the regionally based mitigation progression impacts season length and the ability to conduct a state series in the remaining activities. In addition, the Board will discuss formats for Music and Scholastic Bowl.
The IHSA has scheduled a special Board of Directors meeting for January 27th to make a determination on the remaining sports calendar.
Here’s the email that was sent to IESA member schools on January 15:
Today’s announcement by the Governor has generated many questions. The included guidance is meant to answer some of the questions as to how this impacts IESA activities, our schools, and our students. Please be sure this is shared with all members of your administrative staff, coaches, A.D, and parents.
It is important to note that mitigations will be applied or lifted on a regional progression based on the metrics of each Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Region. It is important to check the Tier level of your region to determine participation opportunities.
At this time, Regions 1, 2, and 5 have moved to Tier 2. All other Regions remain in Tier 3.
What is allowed under Tier 2 for IESA activities?
– Moderate risk sports (Volleyball) may conduct practices. Intra-team scrimmages may be conducted with parental consent. These are considered regular season practices. Teams may conduct a try-out. No contests may be conducted.
– High risk sports (Boys Basketball) may conduct non-contact practices. These are considered regular season practices. Teams may conduct a try-out. No intra-squad scrimmages or contests may be conducted. IESA Girls Basketball practice/tryout is scheduled to begin March 8.
– All participants and coaches who can medically tolerate a face covering must wear a face covering when unable to maintain at least a 6-foot social distance.
What is allowed under Tier 3 for IESA activities?
– All sports are paused.
– A coach may hold an individual training session with a student as long as face coverings are in place and there is no physical contact between the coach and the student. For example, a coach could work one-on one with a student for 15 minutes, a different student for another 15 minutes, a third student for another 15 minutes, etc. However, there is absolutely no group practice or practice with two or more students at the same time.
For additional information, please click on the following link:
Region Metrics: https://dph.illinois.gov/regionmetrics
DCEO Sports Safety Guidance: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/sports-safety-guidance
For the activities of Bowling and Competitive Cheer, no decisions have been made regarding the State Series. For those schools who have been moved to Tier 2, regular season competition in these two lower risk activities may be conducted in accordance with the updated All Sports Policy.
The IESA Board of Directors will be meeting on January 29th to discuss how the regionally based mitigation progression impacts season length and the ability to conduct a state series in the remaining activities. In addition, the Board will discuss formats for Music and Scholastic Bowl.
Thank you for your continued patience. Please contact the IESA Office with any questions.
Nicole Schaefbauer
Associate Executive Director
