As of August 7, 2020

We are posting updates pertaining to Illinois High School Cross Country. News and changes are fluid, so I felt this was the easiest way to keep you updated.

If you have any questions about anything pertaining to cross country, contact me at [email protected] or [email protected]

Michael Newman

August 6, 2020

The IHSA releases guidelines for fall sports for the upcoming 2020-2021 cross country season.

STORY

In an e-mail obtained by Chicago Public Schools Athletic Directors, the Chicago Public Schools decides to delay fall sports a week in order to get clearance from IPDH. Problem is that IHSA and State of Illinois have already given guidance and clearance.

STORY

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July 31, 2020

IESA reverses decision; Fall Cross Country can begin practice on August 3

Press Release from IESA Executive Director Steve Endsley

The IESA Board of Directors once again held a special meeting to discuss the status of fall sports and all IESA activities for the 2020-21 school year. The meeting was convened as a result of the announcement by Governor Pritzker on Wednesday regarding youth sports.

During their meeting on July 23, the IESA Board made the decision to cancel the fall activities of golf, softball, baseball, and cross-country. That decision was based on the information the Association had at the time of the meeting. The All Sports Guidance document that was recently released from the Governor's Office placed the sports of golf, softball, baseball, and cross-country in the "lower risk" category. Sports in that category can hold practices and interscholastic games. As a result of these four sports being recategorized to lower risk and with interscholastic competitions being allowed, the IESA Board for Directors has approved a plan for the return of regular season contests in these activities and a limited state series.

Softball, baseball, and cross-country teams may begin their practices on August 3 and they may conduct their first game or contest on August 15. Please note that competitions may not be held before August 15. This means that contests previously scheduled to start before August 15 will need to be cancelled. This start date is mandated by the Governor's Office. A copy of that document is available at this link: https://coronavirus.illinois.gov/sfc/servlet.shepherd/document/download/069t000000CyCndAAF?operationContext=S1

A regional only level of the state series for softball and baseball will be held the week of September 21 and a sectional only level for cross-country will be held sometime between October 10-17.  A sectional only level for golf will be held on Wednesday, September 9.

Additionally, the Board approved a plan for modified seasons in all remaining IESA sports and activities. The purpose of the plan is to provide schools, administrators, coaches, parents, and officials with a general framework for their sports and activity programs in the 2020-21 school year. It is a very fluid plan and circumstances/guidelines/mandates may change any part of the plan at any time. The plan is available at this link: https://www.iesa.org/temp/IESAAlternativePlan.pdf

I speak for the Board when I say they do not like to reverse decisions. In this case, the Board believed the information that became available after their initial decision on July 23 warranted a review of that decision. Ultimately, the Board approved the resumption of a regular season in the sports deemed lower risk and a plan for the remainder of the school year.  It is important to remember that the 2020-21 school year is not going to be the same as previous years. We are hopeful that the remainder of the sports and activities will be held.  Currently, the majority of those activities have been deemed as medium or high risk. The Board felt that the plan they approved provides direction and a blueprint should we be able to move forward.

Obviously, this will generate many questions from the membership. I respectfully ask that you give us some time to update the documents we will send to everyone about all of the activities. Finally, please know that the modified schedule and seasons as approved today apply only to the 2020-21 school year. Assuming we can return to "normal" in 2021-22, all seasons and schedules would return to their traditional dates in the IESA calendar.

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July 31, 2020

Kraig Garber, the IHSA Assistant Executive Director in charge of Cross Country, sent an e-mail to an athletic director who had questions on how cross country meets should be held as of today. Kraig gave us permission to publish his reply.

The question was from the Athletic Director:

“Good afternoon. I’m sure you have been getting hounded with questions, but I’ve got a couple.

First, what are the limits for a meet as far as the number of teams that can be run at one time or is it the total number of runners?

Second, we are scheduled to host a meet in the state series this year. What is that going to look like or will it even happen?”
Reply

“You will be limited to 3 teams per meet and no more than 50 participants per race. Anyone who is not competing in a race is considered a spectator and spectators are limited to multiple groups of 50 with the groups being no less than 30 feet apart. Social distancing is expected at the starting line of a race. Right now, state series are TBD, but we will do everything we can to conduct some form of state series safely and in accordance with the Governor’s Restore Illinois plan. I plan to put some sport specific COVID-19 Guidance out as soon as I can. Stay tuned.” – Kraig Garber

July 30, 2020

Mike Newman gives his opinion of what to watch in this new season and new normal cross-country in Illinois – Story

July 29, 2020

IHSA Releases Guidelines to start new high school cross country. Governor JD Pritzker sets Guidelines and Standards for sports in Illinois.

Story | IHSA Guidelines | State of Illinois Guidelines