High school basketball and wrestling will not happen this winter in Illinois after guidance issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health Tuesday afternoon would severely limit what teams can and cannot do.
IDPH yesterday reclassified basketball as a “high-risk sport” along with wrestling and football, meaning only non-contact practices can take place under current COVID-19 guidelines.
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said in a statement late Tuesday afternoon that he is disappointed in the state’s decision as he felt the IHSA presented options to the department that would have allowed basketball to move forward. One of the proposals would have called for everyone, including players, to wear face masks during games and to sit six feet apart on the bench.
The IHSA’s Board of Directors is set to meet today to officially decide the status of winter sports. IDPH did move cheerleading and dance to a low-risk category, meaning they can continue competitively.
Anderson told the Peoria Journal-Star last week that the IHSA could be forced to cease operations if there are no state tournaments for a significant period of time.
