Chicago Public Schools announces delay in Fall Sports for at least one week

By Michael Newman

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An e-mail that was sent to some Athletic Directors in the Chicago Public Schools on Thursday, August 6, outlined that the start of the fall sports for Chicago Public School students will be delayed one week. The e-mail said that the start date would be on the week of August 17 with the date to be announced later. IHSA Fall Sports were supposed to start on August 10.

The Chicago Office of Sports Administration is releasing new updated guidelines for the Fall Sports season pending the approval from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Athletic Directors were not sent this e-mail immediately. A couple of Athletic Directors heard the rumor of the delay. They had to reach out to the Chicago Public Schools to get the information.

The e-mail sent to the Athletic Directors stated (in full):

“Pending IDPH approval for Fall sports, the Office of Sports Administration is releasing the following updated guidelines and preparation for the competitive season. For Chicago Public Schools, the formal Fall sport season cannot commence until the IDPH issues approval to the IHSA plan, and various compliance measures and training is satisfied by schools and school personnel to promote the safety of our student athletes and coaches. Formal guidelines pertaining to the Fall competitive season are forthcoming.”

The Fall season is scheduled to start the week of August 17 at a date we will announce shortly.

“Summer conditioning can continue through Friday, August, 7 operating under the previously released guidelines for Summer participation. Schools that are interested in participating in one of the IHSA designated Fall sports that did not have any students participating during the summer, should review the summer guidelines as an introduction to the screening process for coaches and student athletes. This document will give you perspective on other safety measures that must be followed by school personnel and student athletes in the fall."

"A webinar for athletic directors and coaches in conjunction with OSHW will be scheduled during the week of August 10th. Regional Athletic Directors will meet with their respective sport coaches electronically during the week of August 10th. CPS approval of Fall sports guidelines is anticipated the week of August 10. Chicago Public League Competition is scheduled to start the week of September 7th.”

This adds to the announcement on Wednesday that the Chicago Public Schools would start the school year with remote learning. Rumors started to swirl around that the school district would not have any fall sports. The CPS announced later in the day that there indeed would be sports for the students within the district.

This e-mail may not be the last announcement from The Chicago Public Schools concerning high school sports. The delay in the start of the season could affect the number of the athletes that could go out for the sports.

That would set up a negative trend of numbers within the schools. It would give them numbers and pressure through the media to cancel sports and save money since there would be no interest in high school for these sports. With Football being pushed from the fall of 2020 to the spring of 2021, we could see the cancellation of Fall Sports for CPS students.

The CPS has not supported these minor sports (Tennis, Golf, Cross-Country, Swimming) in the past. Last year before teachers went on strike, the Director of XC for the Chicago Public Schools did not even know the IHSA dates of when the Regional and Sectional Meets would take place.

It would also save them (The Chicago Public Schools) money in paying their coaches the same amount they received when the COVID-19 pandemic closed down the schools last March.