Illinois postpones high school basketball season

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#26      
Long time reader of this forum and huge Illini fan. I appreciate all of the inside knowledge and conversations I read on a daily basis.

I believe the IHSA said yes to allow basketball to start on time because they want to be the good guy in the fight. When the state or districts shut it down for the season and parents start to complain, the IHSA will say "we said you can play, we are on your side here". With that said, i think they should be allowed to play but unfortunately i dont think it will happen this season. I feel bad for all the players who work so hard to this moment, especially the seniors who aren't going to play basketball at the next level. They had no idea last March that it would be their last game.
 
#27      
Long time reader of this forum and huge Illini fan. I appreciate all of the inside knowledge and conversations I read on a daily basis.

I believe the IHSA said yes to allow basketball to start on time because they want to be the good guy in the fight. When the state or districts shut it down for the season and parents start to complain, the IHSA will say "we said you can play, we are on your side here". With that said, i think they should be allowed to play but unfortunately i dont think it will happen this season. I feel bad for all the players who work so hard to this moment, especially the seniors who aren't going to play basketball at the next level. They had no idea last March that it would be their last game.
I have 2 children(boy & girl) who played high school basketball & baseball/softball. If they were seniors now I would seriously have to talk with them about homeschooling/working in my office for a year then going back for their senior year in the fall 2021. It was one of the best years of their life & to miss it would have been heartbreaking for them. I know their friends on the team would have done it too. They were starters on their teams, but not high D1 recruits. I know it is different for the "studs" who can't wait to get to their college teams, but for the average kid losing the senior year would be very very difficult to cope with.
 
#28      
As someone who isn't in great shape but has been to the gym during this time and had to wear a mask, I managed to jog for 30 minutes in a mask, then go through my weight lifting routine.

Did it suck? Yes. Was it impossible? No. Was it cheaper than getting sick? Absolutely.

High schools can't afford the testing programs colleges can. It's masks or no season. Take your pick.

I’m 33, in the military, and can still run a 6:30 mile.

However, I was winded and struggling to catch my breath going up two flights of stairs at work with my mask on. I also previously stated in this thread that I feel oxygen starved (almost the same feeling I’ve had when going hypoxic) by simply talking with a mask on during meetings.

Just because you could do some version of physical activity with a mask on doesn’t mean everyone can. I think it’s important to remember that.
 
#29      

IlliniKat91

Chicago, IL
I’m 33, in the military, and can still run a 6:30 mile.

However, I was winded and struggling to catch my breath going up two flights of stairs at work with my mask on. I also previously stated in this thread that I feel oxygen starved (almost the same feeling I’ve had when going hypoxic) by simply talking with a mask on during meetings.

Just because you could do some version of physical activity with a mask on doesn’t mean everyone can. I think it’s important to remember that.

Fair, but that only highlights the question of whether or not we should have a high school athletics this year. My belief is that we should not, but if we're forging ahead then precautions need to be taken. That means wearing masks during play to mitigate risk. If that doesn't work for everyone, then so be it. The athlete and family have the option not to participate if masks are required.
 
#30      
I have 2 children(boy & girl) who played high school basketball & baseball/softball. If they were seniors now I would seriously have to talk with them about homeschooling/working in my office for a year then going back for their senior year in the fall 2021. It was one of the best years of their life & to miss it would have been heartbreaking for them. I know their friends on the team would have done it too. They were starters on their teams, but not high D1 recruits. I know it is different for the "studs" who can't wait to get to their college teams, but for the average kid losing the senior year would be very very difficult to cope with.

Does that work for eligibility? In Texas you have 4 years from when you enter high school to play, and then you can’t turn 19 before September first of any year in high school. So the homeschool to buy a year seems like a good idea, but it wouldn’t work here unless you transferred back to a private school. Is the clock different in other places?
 
#32      
Does that work for eligibility? In Texas you have 4 years from when you enter high school to play, and then you can’t turn 19 before September first of any year in high school. So the homeschool to buy a year seems like a good idea, but it wouldn’t work here unless you transferred back to a private school. Is the clock different in other places?

I believe that rule is the same in IL.
 
#33      
From what I am hearing, there are a number of central IL schools already planning to defy Governor's orders and play ball. The next few weeks should be very interesting.
 
#34      
Fair, but that only highlights the question of whether or not we should have a high school athletics this year. My belief is that we should not, but if we're forging ahead then precautions need to be taken. That means wearing masks during play to mitigate risk. If that doesn't work for everyone, then so be it. The athlete and family have the option not to participate if masks are required.

Maybe I’m old fashioned but huffing and puffing through a sweat soaked mask doesn’t seem like it’s going to mitigate much of anything, even if the athletes don’t touch it with their hands. Ten people in tight quarters touching the same ball, etc. But I suppose it would be good for optics.
 
#35      

IlliniKat91

Chicago, IL
Maybe I’m old fashioned but huffing and puffing through a sweat soaked mask doesn’t seem like it’s going to mitigate much of anything, even if the athletes don’t touch it with their hands. Ten people in tight quarters touching the same ball, etc. But I suppose it would be good for optics.

It's doing something if gyms that require them aren't having major outbreaks. It's better than absolutely nothing if people are going to insist on playing a game in close contact indoors in buildings with mostly old and outdated HVAC systems.

In my opinion, we shouldn't be having indoor high school athletics this year. But, in light of people moving forward, masks should be required.
 
#36      
I honestly dont see how we can make the players wear masks. As a high school coach in the Chicagoland area, the kids are struggling during these 20 contact days. A game is a whole different speed than practice no matter what you do. It's a contact sport. You're already sharing the ball, sweating, and touching non stop. If you want to wear a mask then by all means wear one but if you dont want to then don't. Have everyone sign a waiver before the season for liability purposes. The dangers of wearing masks while playing are pretty significant.
 
#37      
It's doing something if gyms that require them aren't having major outbreaks. It's better than absolutely nothing if people are going to insist on playing a game in close contact indoors in buildings with mostly old and outdated HVAC systems.

Not all gyms are requiring them, at least for the entire time you're there. I work out at an L.A. Fitness location here locally and when you're required to wear it depends on where in the state you're at. In the Chicagoland area, you're required to wear a mask the entire time you're in the gym, including during your workout. In downstate Illinois (where I live), you're only required to wear them upon entering the gym but don't have to while you're working out. I wear a mask my whole time while I'm working out no matter what though as I have a job where I'll potentially interact with the general public on a daily basis. I don't really mind it though to be honest. Though I can count on one hand how many people aside from myself (and the staff that work there) I will see wearing masks during their workout.
 
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