MAC ON SPORTS: IHSA OFFICIALS TO MEET FRIDAY TO DISCUSS PREPS’ FUTURE THIS SEASON

J. Thomas McNamara

The Illinois High School Association meets Friday as it takes another step toward determining the fate of Illinois’ 2020 fall high school sports, with organization representatives slated to meet with leaders of both the Illinois Department of Public Health and Illinois State Board of Education on that day.
     Earlier today (Tuesday, July 21st), the IHSA released an update from its executive director Craig Anderson on the status of fall athletics, all of which are in doubt because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“     The Illinois High School Association will take part in a roundtable discussion with leaders from IDPH and ISBE on Friday, July 24,” Anderson said in a statement. “We expect this meeting will provide important guidance on how the IHSA will proceed with fall sports. As a result, we have postponed the IHSA board meeting scheduled for July 22 until July 29.”
     The IHSA board now will meet July 29 to decide what its sports calendar for fall, winter ans spring will be. Maroa-Forsyth has submitted a document it created after receiving feedback from athletic directors and football coaches AD Phil Applebee and Josh Jostes surveyed after they circulated their document.
     Football probably will be moved to the spring with volleyball played as scheduled this fall, but the situations are fluid.
     I will have more on this developing story in a future print edition of the Decatur Tribune.