The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors voted to proceed with the high school basketball schedules as planned, one day after Gov. Pritzker issued new COVID guidelines to put basketball on hold.
With support from the IL Dept. Of Public Health, Priztker recently revised its winter safety guidelines to place basketball into the “high risk” category, placing it higher from its original “medium risk” allocation during his Oct. 27 announcement.
“What I would suggest is that if there's a difference of opinion, I prefer to err on the side of health and safety. And I think that's where we have intended for all of our guidance to fall,” said Priztker in his announcement.
Head Coach Kyle Benson
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For local educators and coaches, the new orders complicate the upcoming sports seasons, which start soon.
Kyle Benson, head coach of Boys Varsity Basketball for Lena Winslow High School in Lena, IL, said he has been navigating the updated guidelines throughout the school year.
“I think the timing of the health department moving basketball from ‘medium risk’ to ‘high risk’ caught the IHSA off-guard a little bit,” said Benson.
Another element of the pandemic that Benson highlights is the impact that COVID has had not only on physical health, but mental wellbeing as well.
“I think mental health is a big part of this, and may not be getting enough attention,” said Benson, "As an advocate for student athletes, I think that’s something we need to consider. I know that the virus is a major concern, as it should be. It’s a concern of mine, every day for everybody.”
While the IHSA and Pritzker’s office continue to have dialogue over the new guidelines, local school districts need to decide how to proceed in the coming weeks.
“Our school board is going to meet, I believe, later this week to discuss what our options are. All things being equal, I know there are those in our school board who would prefer to give us a chance to play, but it’s obviously not quite that simple,” said Benson.
As the winter unfolds, hopefully a balance can be found for student athletes that keeps people safe while restoring a sense of normalcy to everyday lives.
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