Putting the ‘ no’ in November
Most Illinois schools to skip IHSA season, try hoops in spring
News affecting the high school basketball season slowly trickled out from schools around the state last week, with an overwhelming majority announcing they don’t intend to participate in the Illinois High School Association’s season, which is scheduled to begin this month.
The language in the announcements was similar, which seemed to indicate that superintendents had been talking among themselves. The wording generally was that basketball teams would not start practice Nov. 16 and were “awaiting further guidance from the IHSA and Illinois Department of Public Health” regarding how to proceed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Schools referred to “opting in” or “opting out.”
It’s unlikely that guidance is coming anytime soon, at least from the governmental side. Gov. J. B. Pritzker, the IDPH and the Illinois State Board of Education have been fairly clear on their guidance: Basketball is delayed until spring. The IHSA deciding to start the season in November anyway doesn’t necessarily force updates or changes to that, especially because so few teams have decided to go against the IDPH guidance and play.
As of Friday, more than 150 schools had announced they would not play in November. Chicago, Springfield and Decatur public school districts all are waiting until spring. According to several sources, the Southwest Suburban Conference, which consists of 10 large public schools in the southwest suburbs, also opted out Friday.
Only six schools in the state ( Lewiston, Lena- Winslow, Parkview Christian, Peoria Christian, Sherrard and Yorkville Christian) have said they will play in November.
Multiple sources have said that insurance companies are refusing to cover schools that start basketball in November — a major issue keeping superintendents and school boards from choosing to play now. Many superintendents are allegedly upset with the IHSA for putting the decision on them, which could lead to superintendents pushing to be allowed on the IHSA’s board in the future. The board currently is comprised of 10 principals and one athletic director.
While no schools in the greater Chicago area have committed to playing this fall and winter, a handful reportedly will start practices Nov. 16. Indications are Kankakee, New Trier, Coal City and Oak Park might begin “non- contact” practices allowed by IDPH guidelines.
The IHSA sent schools a survey Friday with several questions related to basketball, including whether they would play in November and whether they would be in favor of moving the season. IHSA spokeman Matt Troha said there was no timeline on when or if the survey results would be shared publicly. The IHSA board likely will discuss that when it meets Wednesday, Troha said.
Meanwhile, Roxana, a school near Edwardsville in southern Illinois, is getting creative. The Shells have a plan to create “pseudo- bubbles,” in which each school district would be responsible for creating a pod for its athletes. Basketball players would share a classroom for remote learning and eat together. They would be required to take coronavirus tests, with any positive cases resulting in 14- day quarantines.
Another idea making the rounds is to move basketball to the IHSA’s summer season, which runs from April 19 to June 26. The timing works nicely for basketball players, fitting right between the spring and summer club sessions. But it could present a major problem for smaller schools that don’t have enough athletes to deal with a possible baseball/ basketball overlap.
While the IHSA’s November season appears dead in the water, it’s possible Chicago Catholic schools might find a way to play. It seems unlikely, however, after dioceses in Rockford and Peoria announced they would not allow their schools to play.