MAC ON SPORTS: ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION PROVIDES SPRING SPORTS UPDATE

J. Thomas McNamara

     Hope really does spring eternal.
     This afternoon (Wednesday), Illinois High School Association Executive Director Craig Anderson released this statement to the media on where the association stands regarding spring sports and whether or not there will be a season for the various sports.
     “As the IHSA staff and board continue to monitor the updates from government officials as well as state and local health departments, we continue to support the possibility of our member schools completing both regular and post-spring sports seasons,” Anderson said in the e-mail to the media.
     “The date schools can return to regular session will determine the length of the spring sports season and the potential of an IHSA State Series. We will be working with our Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC), Mount Zion’s trainer Dustin Fink is a member of the group, to determine the need for an acclimatization period in advance of competition.
     “No timeline has been set at this time.”
     This week’s print edition of the Decatur Tribune has an earlier question and answer update from the IHSA on the matter.
     Anderson also wrote, “We are considering an extension of the spring sports season limitation to provide more participation opportunities for students. This may include movement of the post-season timelines and state series.”
     Obviously, this is a fluid and developing story and we will continue to monitor developments and bring them to our readers in future print editions of the Decatur Tribune.