IHSA Approves Guidelines For June Illinois State Track & Field Championships

By Michael Newman

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The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) had their monthly Board of Directors Meeting on Monday in which the focus of discussion would be whether a state series would take place in 2021. The board announced in a statement Monday afternoon that they approved a recommendation to approve guidance for IHSA High School Sports this spring including Boys and Girls State Track and Field.

IHSA BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESS RELEASE

Craig Anderson, the Executive Director of the IHSA, said in the statement:

“We are eager to inform our coaches of the mitigation guidance so they can better prepare for their upcoming seasons and we plan to get detailed information out to them soon. However, this decision came with some trepidation from the IHSA Board of Directors. There are several instances where the current IDPH mitigations give us pause. The Board wants to move forward for the overall good of IHSA student-athletes, however, they ask that we remain diligent in our staff efforts to have IDPH reconsider certain mitigation guidelines. The IHSA has been a national leader in risk mitigation throughout our 100-plus year history and have adapted our scope to include safety against COVID-19. It is imperative that the expertise from our Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and staff must be heeded.”

The board also approved a recommendation for a state series in traditional spring sports. The IHSA stated that all tournaments are currently expected to conduct all rounds of competition, including a State Final. Guidelines will be posted for the Track & Field State Series online sometime later this week.

The IHSA State Track and Field Championships were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic that shut down all sports last spring.

The IHSA had announced on January 27 that there would be a IHSA Season for Track and Field beginning on April 5 and ending on June 19. That could change. We will have to wait and see.

In news also released on Monday, the Illinois Department of Health (IDPH) released a spectator attendance for outdoor sports. The IDPH announced that IHSA schools located in regions in Phase 4 can increase spectators from 50 persons to 20% venue capacity. All regions in the state are currently in Phase 4.

This is great news for the student/athletes in Illinois that participate in Track and Field. I am happy for all of you.

Now, if we can get the conferences that have their minds set to only have dual meets to have a change of heart and make the changes that the IHSA will suggest later this week.