A day after the Illinois Department of Public Health appeared to place high school basketball competition on hold by categorizing it as a high-risk activity, Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker didn't back down from the decision in the face of criticism.
At Wednesday's daily briefing, Governor JB Pritzker suggested schools could get in legal trouble if they don't comply with the requirement limiting basketball players to no contact practice and training because of the players close proximity during competition.
But, the IHSA Board of Directors at a special meeting Wednesday sided with its Sport Medicine Advisory Committee to allow Boys and Girls Basketball to begin practices on November 16. Contests can begin on November 30 within an Illinois COVID Region or within a conference.
As a part of the mitigation plan, masks will be worn by all players, coaches, and officials during play.
One area coach has experience coaching a player in a face mask.
Anna-Jonesboro High School girls' head coach Matt Denny coached Marlee Smith last season. Smith was diagnosed with cancer in March 2019. Denny says he knows firsthand players can adhere to the IHSA requirement.
"Every practice and every game she was a part of last year she had a mask on the whole entire time. Every game she played this summer she had a mask on. It wasn't just the mask. She was battling chemo treatments and battling getting stronger."
Marlee Smith is a cancer survivor. She competed this fall in golf and won the SIRR-Mississippi Conference individual championship.
Denny says he's excited about the IHSA Board's decision on basketball, but he knows it could be the start of a long process as the vote defied the Governor's office and the IDPH, plus it will become a local school decision to determine if it will allow the basketball teams to participate.
"There's the other factor you've got to take in when you talk about the IHSA vs. IDPH and the governor's office, the school boards have to OK this as well. How much liability will they be taking on or won't they? Will they be willing to? It's a start. It's a start in the right direction. But, there's a lot of work to be done."
The IHSA Board also voted Wednesday to move wrestling from the winter to the summer season because of its high-risk status.
