After the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) decided not to follow Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s edict that changed the risk level of participation in sports, parents, coaches and athletes had offered their reactions to the organization’s move.
In August, following the guidelines published by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) regarding high school basketball being considered a “medium-risk” activity, the IHSA had decided to run Illinois’ basketball season from November through February, according to coverage by Patch.
Yet, at the end of October, Pritzker claimed he was following further input from the IDPH when, rather than banning the start of basketball, he simply changed the risk category that it and all other high school sports fall under, according to Patch. The next day, IHSA voted to start the fall sports schedule as planned.
The Illinois High School Association’s Board of Directors recently voted to continue with a delayed fall sports season, despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker raising the risk level of such activities, a move that leaves school districts making the final decision.
| Keith Johnston/Pixabay
The IHSA Board indicated that it was leaving the decision whether or not to participate in the season up to individual schools, with the expectation that schools that are still learning remotely in response to risk levels in their communities will bow out, according to Patch.
At Edwards County High School, Boys Basketball and Football head coach Russ Gerlach, said that he is concerned the IHSA’s move leaves the schools on the hook instead.
“The IHSA has nothing to lose by ignoring the governor,” he told SE Illinois News.
Now, whether the schools vote to follow Pritzker’s edict or the recommendations of the IHSA, they face potential pushback or liability either direction.
“They are putting all of the pressure on the schools,” Gerlach told SE Illinois News, “Now the schools will appear as the bad guy for voting no.”
Ultimately, though, Gurlach said he didn’t feel confident which way the Edwards County School Board would vote, though he did think there was a good chance the school would bow out of the sports season.
“I think the liability risks are too high,” he told the SE Illinois News.
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