IHSA Releases Fall Sports Guidelines
The Illinois High School Association has released the fine print on its fall sports guidelines for cross country and golf.
The documents include procedural steps, health department limits, and rules for spectators.
Cross Country General Requirements and Considerations:
•All guidelines of IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 must be adhered to.
•Per IDPH guidelines, competition is limited to intra-conference or intra-EMS-region.
•Social distancing between individuals of at least 6 feet must be maintained at all times. Handshakes, fist bumps, hugging, etc. are not permissible.
•Race Capacity – Student participants, coaches, timers, and paid/volunteer meet officials are restricted to a combined total of 50 per race.
•Spectators are permitted at meets as long as they maintain social distancing throughout the event as outlined in the IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 Guidelines.
•Small meets (i.e. duals and triangulars) are most effective in maintaining fewer competitors, school personnel, officials, and spectators. Small meets make it easier to space runners out at the start and finish of a race to ensure for appropriate social distancing. Small meets must adhere to the event capacity guidelines outlined in IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 as well as those outlined in this document.
•Multi-team Meets – If schools have scheduled large meets such as invitationals or anything larger than a triangular, then again, hosts must ensure that ALL event attendees are held to the capacity guidelines outlined in IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 as well as this document (i.e. combined total of no more than 50 student participants, coaches, officials, and timers per race).
•Multiple Races – If multiple races will occur at a site, then those participating in the race can only be in the vicinity of the racecourse during their scheduled time specified by the meet manager. Once that time expires, participants must vacate the racecourse area to allow the next scheduled group of participants to compete. Vacating the racecourse area means that student participants have either left the premises or are in a location that is completely removed from the event.
•Competition: Per IDPH guidelines, competition is limited to intra-conference or intra-EMS-region
•Transportation – For transportation to events, schools must consider social distancing requirements when scheduling contests and events for the fall. Social distancing (as required by state or local health department) will need to be maintained on buses/vans. Thus, multiple buses/vans and/or parental/guardian transportation could likely be needed.
•Student athletes should be responsible for their own supplies such as a water bottle.
•Face coverings are required at all times when not engaged in training, competing or other strenuous activity.
Golf General Requirements and Considerations:
•All guidelines of IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 must be adhered to.
•Social distancing between individuals of at least 6 feet must be maintained at all times. Handshakes, fist bumps, hugging, etc. are not permissible.
•Student participants, coaches, and officials are restricted to a combined total of 50 per wave. A wave is defined as an individual group of 50 (golfers, coaches, officials, and volunteers)
•Hosts can have multiple waves at an invitational as long as the waves are completely spaced out so that they don’t intermingle.
•Spectators are permitted at events as long as they maintain social distancing throughout the event as outlined in the IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 Guidelines.
•Small events are most effective in maintaining fewer competitors, school personnel, officials, and spectators. Small events make it easier to space golfers out at the start and finish of a match to ensure for appropriate social distancing. Small meets must adhere to the event capacity guidelines outlined in IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 as well as those outlined in this document.
•If schools have scheduled large tournaments or invitationals, hosts must ensure that ALL event attendees are held to the capacity guidelines outlined in IHSA Return to Play Phase 4 as well as this document (i.e. combined total of no more than 50 student participants, coaches, and officials per wave).
•Players licking fingers – If a golfer touches their mouth, practice is stopped and the player must sanitize their hands. Players should only touch and use their own golf ball and not touch other players golf ball or equipment. Players are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer.
•Player habits – Coaches should now work to create new habits including staying away from touching their face, not allowing sunflower seeds and not spitting. Do not touch the flagstick or bunker rakes, nor other player’s equipment or golf balls.
•Masks – Players are not required to wear cloth face coverings, but may do so if they desire, particularly when not able to maintain social distancing. If an individual would like to wear a mask on the playing course or in a meeting, they may do so. There is no prohibition on the color of the mask.
The amended season for cross country is August 24-October 24 and golf’s season will run August 13-October 24.
Currently, State Series events are To Be Determined in order to ensure that the events can be conducted safely and in accordance with the Governor’s Restore Illinois Guidelines. The IHSA will make every effort to conduct some form of State Series event and will announce decisions related to this as they become available.
