IHSA Gives the Go Ahead for Summer Sport Practices
By CHRISTY JANKOWSKI
Staff Writer
Starting Monday, June 15, Cerro Gordo and Bement High School students will begin practices for sports with limits. The IHSA posted guidelines on their website, with practices available to start on June 6. Districts have come up with individual plans following the guidelines with approval from their local health department.
Some of the IHSA guidelines include: no more than 3 hours of practice, maintain social distancing of 6ft apart with masks worn when distanacing cannot occur, only groups of ten people or less can practice together at a time and these groups must remain the same as well, practices can only include weightlifting and running, no sports equipment that passes between hands is allowed (for example, a football or basketball), sanitation requirements, and coaches must keep a daily record of athletes with monitoring of temperatures, no sharing of water bottles or use of water fountains, and more. The site states as well, “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 6-foot distance when feasible.”
After submitting everything necessary to the health department, Cline was told, “Looks good, everything that needs to be in there that we will, you know, share with our parents and our athletes, looks good and he said, Go for it.”
During the June board meeting, Bement Assistant Principal Steve Cline updated the board on this information. “The only thing they can absolutely do right now is lift weights and conditioning. They cannot do any sports specific equipment. No balls are allowed. It’s basically just running in weightlifting. Each time they get together the coaches have to do a wellness check, they have to do temperatures, they have to make sure kids are not sick before they start, they have to keep a record of all this information.” Cline added that the district included a consent form for athletes. It is not necessary, but the district thought it would be a good idea.
Cerro Gordo Coach Brandon Willard stated, “Both schools have worked together to put together a plan that matches the guidelines provided by the NFHS, IHSA, ISBE, and the IDPH. Practices, at this point, will be limited to weightlifting and conditioning only. The goal is to get our student athletes acclimated to an active lifestyle again, as well as giving them the opportunity to safely socialize with each other again!”
After submitting everything necessary to the health department, Cline was told, “Looks good, everything that needs to be in there that we will, you know, share with our parents and our athletes, looks good and he said, Go for it.”
Sport practice participation is voluntary. The CGB football team will begin practices Monday evening in Cerro Gordo from 5-7pm.
