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IDPH officially approves IHSA's modified sports plan for the 2020-21 season

The Illinois Department of Public Health approved the IHSA’s modified sports plan for the 2020-21 season, the IHSA announced Saturday. The IDPH approved the plan on Friday, according to the IHSA.

On July 29, the IHSA released its modified schedule for the 2020-21 season, moving football, girls volleyball and boys soccer to the spring. Boys and girls golf, boys and girls cross country, girls tennis and girls swimming will still compete this fall but those sports must compete within their conference or within their Illinois COVID-19 region.

Schools were allowed to proceed with practices and competitions prior to the IDPH’s approval, but some school districts and schools were waiting for formal approval, according to the IHSA.

Practice for golf, cross country, girls tennis and girls swimming was allowed to start Aug. 10, while competition for golf started Aug. 13. Competition for girls tennis can start Aug. 20, and competition for cross country and girls swimming can start Aug. 24.

Under the IHSA’s modified schedule, football, boys soccer, girls volleyball, girls badminton, boys gymnastics and water polo will compete in the spring from Feb. 15 until May 1. Baseball, softball, track and field, girls soccer, boys volleyball, lacrosse and boys tennis will compete in the summer from May 3 to June 26. Winter sports will compete from Nov. 16 to Feb. 13.

Teams in all sports will play shortened regular seasons. State tournaments will be determined on a sport-by-sport basis.

IHSA’s announcement July 29 came hours after Gov. JB Pritzker announced new restrictions on youth and adult sports. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health put together a tiered plan, with lower-risk sports allowed to compete more quickly than contact sports, such as football.

Source: The Daily Chronicle

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