IHSA alters 2020-2021 athletic schedule

The IHSA announce that football will be a spring sport in 2020-21. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Heart of Illinois ABC

SPRINGFIELD – The high school sports fall schedule will look different this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Football, girls volleyball and boys soccer have been moved to spring 2021, the Illinois High School Association announced Wednesday.

IHSA officials said the plan has been sent to the Illinois Department of Public Health for final approval.

Golf, girls tennis, cross country, and swimming and diving will still be held in the fall season, but with modifications. Those sports will be allowed to start the season on August 10 as scheduled, however, the season will end October 24.

Other sports seasons directed by the IHSA are as follows:

  • Winter:             November 16 to February 13
  • Spring:              February 15 to May 1
  • Summer:         May 3 to June 26

The announcement comes after Gov. JB Pritzker announced further restrictions on organized sports, which include the IHSA and IESA, but excludes professional and collegiate leagues.

“This plan, like nearly every aspect of our current lives, remains fluid,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “Changes may come, and if they do, we will be agile while putting safety and students first. It was important that we provide a framework today for our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and officials to begin preparing for the 2020-21 school year.”

State Series tournament decisions will be made on a sport-by-sport basis as each season progresses, but providing postseason opportunities remains a priority of the Board. This could potentially include culminating State Series Tournaments after Regional or Sectional rounds, or seeking other non-traditional means to conduct events, the statement from the IHSA read.

Here’s a breakdown of when sports under the IHSA will be played:

Sport/Activity IDPH Risk Traditional Season 2020-21 Season Start Date End Date
Boys/Girls Golf Lower Fall Fall August 10 Oct. 17
Girls Tennis Lower Fall Fall August 10 Oct. 17
Boys/Girls Cross Country Medium Fall Fall August 10 Oct. 17
Girls Swimming & Diving Medium Fall Fall August 10 Oct. 17
Boys & Girls Basketball Medium Winter Winter Nov. 16 Feb. 13
Wrestling Higher Winter Winter Nov. 16 Feb. 13
Boys Swimming & Diving Medium Winter Winter Nov. 16 Feb. 13
Cheerleading Higher Winter Winter Nov. 16 Feb. 13
Dance Higher Winter Winter Nov. 16 Feb. 13
Boys/Girls Bowling Lower Winter Winter Nov. 16 Feb. 13
Girls Gymnastics Lower Winter Winter Nov. 16 Feb. 13
Football Higher Fall Spring Feb. 15 May 1
Boys Soccer Medium Fall Spring Feb. 15 May 1
Girls Volleyball Medium Fall Spring Feb. 15 May 1
Girls Badminton Lower Spring Spring Feb. 15 May 1
Boys Gymnastics Lower Spring Spring Feb. 15 May 1
Boys/Girls Water Polo Medium Spring Spring Feb. 15 May 1
Baseball Lower Spring Summer May 3 June 26
Softball Lower Spring Summer May 3 June 26
Boys/Girls Track & Field Lower Spring Summer May 3 June 26
Girls Soccer Medium Spring Summer May 3 June 26
Boys Volleyball Medium Spring Summer May 3 June 26
Boys/Girls Lacrosse Higher Spring Summer May 3 June 26
Boys Tennis Lower Spring Summer May 3 June 26

(Graph courtesy: IHSA) 

Heart of Illinois ABC can be reached at [email protected]

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