IHSA Executive Director: “It appears to be difficult” to have football in the fall

IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – With the IHSA Board of Directors set to convene later this month, the top leader of the IHSA says the football season in the fall “appears to be difficult.”

Speaking with WJBC’s Marc Strauss, IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said he is still waiting on government officials’ answers to make final decisions.

“I’ll just honestly say at this point, and a lot of my decision and thought today is based upon a little bit of what happened last week. I think with the current restrictions that Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Governor’s Office that put upon us, it appears to be difficult for us to be able to start fall activities, in particular, football…because of the physical contact that is obviously involved…It looks extremely difficult for us to have football under the current restrictions.

Currently, the first day of fall sports practices is August 10, per the IHSA calendar.

“All the benefits that the sport and activity and participation beyond the education, how important those two things are to go together are extremely important,” added Anderson. “Generally, I think our membership (IHSA Board of Directors) recognizes that so if they can and feel like they can do it safely that they will likely provide opportunities for kids.”

The IHSA Board of Directors will convene July 22, to decide options as the fall sports season approaches.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…