The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors has approved Return to Play Guidelines, developed within the current structure of Governor J. B. Pritzker’s Restore Illinois plan. Guidelines provide the first step in IHSA student-athletes returning to participation. They were developed by the IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) and have been approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH.)
The full IHSA Return to Play Guidelines are listed below.
An IHSA member high school may not conduct workouts under the Return to Play Guidelines unless they have local school district approval, and are located in a Health Region that is currently in Phase 3 (or better), under the Governor’s Restore Illinois plan. Any school within a Phase 3 Region of the State could begin to implement the Return to Play Guidelines on Saturday, June 6, 2020.
The Return to Play Guidelines are aimed at student-athlete acclimatization and general physical fitness, and will not include any skill of sport training elements. The guidelines detail the allowable activities for student-athletes and coaches, as well as the safety precautions and social distancing that must be adhered to in order to maximize safety.
“These guidelines fulfill the IHSA’s twin commitments to interscholastic sports and the health of the interscholastic athletes that play them,” said IHSA SMAC member Dr. Preston Wolin, the Surgeon/Director of Sports Medicine at Chicago Center for Orthopedics. “The SMAC has taken into account both the most recent news about the virus, and the opinions of experts across the Country. Both the SMAC and the Board will continue to monitor events and medical opinions as time moves forward.”
“Our kids have been without sports and school for over two months, which has taken a toll on their physical and emotional health,” said IHSA SMAC member Dr. Cynthia R. LaBella, the Medical Director at Institute for Sports Medicine and Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. “We purposely designed this first phase to focus solely on strength and conditioning, so that kids can gradually rebuild their fitness levels in small peer groups with coach guidance. This will get kids moving again with their peers in the safest way possible, which will have a huge positive impact on their physical and emotional well-being.”
The IHSA’s Return to Play Guidelines will remain in place until the IHSA or Illinois Department of Health announce further guidelines.
Beginning June 6, 2020, IHSA member schools are permitted to open for voluntary strength and conditioning sessions. School districts should work with their local Health Departments on current restrictions in their area, prior to beginning contact. Local school administration determines the permitted activities at their school. Prioritizing the health and safety of all students and staff must remain the focus of each IHSA member school. Outdoor workouts are highly encouraged over indoor workouts, to reduce transmission. Students are limited to three hours of participation per day These requirements must be followed when conducting voluntary strength and conditioning sessions.
- Maintain social distance by being six feet apart.
- Masks shall be worn when social distance cannot be maintained.
- Follow gathering guidelines of groups of ten-or-less, including the Coach and medical personnel.
- Groups of ten-or-less must be pre-determined.
- Once groups are determined, students may not switch from one group to another based upon sport. Studentsthat participate in multiple sports for the year are encouraged to be grouped, for summer participation, in their fall sport.
- Interaction between groups shall be avoided.
- Sessions can only include weightlifting, running, and exercises designed to promote physical fitness.
- Sport-specific drills are not permitted, and sport-specific equipment may not be used.
- Implement diligent and effective cleaning and disinfecting of frequently-touched objects and surfaces, following the guidance of the CDC and IDPH.
- Coaches must maintain a daily record of what athletes are participating, when, symptoms they may present.
- Athletes should be monitored at start of practice for temperature >100.4F/37C or symptoms of COVID-19 (fevers, chills, coughs, muscle aches, headache, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell.)
- If symptoms are present students should not participate in practice and should be referred to a physician for evaluation and testing.
- Free weight exercises that require a spotter cannot be conducted while honoring social distancing norms. Safety measures in all forms must be strictly enforced in the weight room.
- Players shall bring their own water bottle, shoes, towels, and other personal equipment. The use of locker rooms, shared water coolers with cups, and water fountains will be prohibited during this stage.
It is the responsibility of each IHSA member school to comply with the above requirements. Additionally, IHSA member school-sponsored camps, clinics, and open gyms are prohibited in any sport at this time. If available, it is encouraged that an Athletic Trainer or medical personnel be available for workouts. They should be masked for any interactions with athletes and maintain six-foot distance when feasible.