High School Parents Petition IHSA For 'Modified' Spring Season

ACROSS ILLINOIS — Parents of Illinois high school athletes whose programs have been suspended at least until April 7 due to the coronavirus pandemic are petitioning to allow spring sports to spill over into summer. This petition came just days after the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) released a statement on March 17 supporting the Illinois State Superintendent of Schools decision that no IHSA school should allow its spring sports teams to practice or compete while Illinois high schools are closed through April 7. The IHSA added its following the best practices provided by the state health department.

The group "Illinois High School Parents Spring sports" launched the petition earlier this week on change.org, pushing for spring sports schedules to be modified to spill over through summer to allow athletes to complete the season.

"This is a huge disappointment for all of the seniors playing their final year of the sport they love and all of their teammates as well," the petition states.

As of Thursday afternoon, the petition had more than 5,200 signatures, and a goal of 7,500 signatures.

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IHSA recently posted several upcoming state tournament cancellations, and answers to several questions regarding the spring sports season, including:

"Q: If the spring sports are unable to be conducted this year, or if a student has to repeat a grade for any reason, including related to the COVID-19 school closing, will student-athletes receive an additional year of eligibility? A: No. Students have eight semesters of eligibility that begin when they enter ninth grade. "

"It is important to remember this is an unprecedented situation and will remain fluid," IHSA stated. "It is possible, for example, that schools may reopen at some point, but that other gatherings (like sports) may remain limited."

In their petition, the Illinois High School Parents Spring sports group also called for any eligibility to be pushed forward, "in order to compromise."

More information: The change.org petition; ihsa.org