Sports

Do safety protocols not pertain to travel teams?

About a week ago, seeking to control COVID-19 working out indoors without a mask. their invincibility complexes can carry I was browsing cases and deaths, but this has The gyms in those videos are populated COVID-19 and not suffer the ramifications through Facebook not been the case for Illinois with coaches and other players who are of those in their practice environments and saw a former athletic programs. After seenot interested in following protocols that that are at a greater risk. Hell, even if neighbor of mine ing coronavirus’ impact on benefit those who are more vulnerable to coaches, players and spectators are fine post a video of his son mashing high schools like Lake Zurich, coronavirus. with contracting coronavirus a double into the right-centerfield gap. At first, I was proud. I which had 36 students-athletes test positive for COVID-19 after At a certain level, I get why some of these kids are anxious Travel that doesn’t mean they can’t indirectly pass it on to those have been following his develop ment as a baseball player since opening practice up, the IHSA quickly backed out of its Phase to get back out on the floor. AAU and other travel sports orteams’ blasé who are following the CDC’s recommendations outside of he was half the size he is now (I can report he is no longer the same pull hitter he was two years ago). But then I watched the video again. Along the fence behind the J AMES KAY Sports Editor 4 Return to Play guidelines that were too lenient to begin with. Based on conversations I have had with Midwest high school coaches, I have been told travel teams from Iowa, ganizations provide a platform for athletes to turn one high end scholarship into several. For lower level prospects, summer tournaments and showcases can be the difference between avoiding accumulatapproach to this is disheartening at best, life practice facilities. Even as someone whose job security is dependent on there being prep sports in the near future, I can’t imagine a world where travel teams are continuing their pre-pandemic batter’s box was my neighbor’s Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin ing massive debt from student threatening circuits around the Midwest travel team standing shoulder to shoulder. No masks were worn. The home plate are going in and out of each others’ states to participate in tournaments. Before loans and using their talents to get free access to higher educaat worst. without there being ramifications for high school sports. umpire was positioned behind the catcher the IHSA deferred to the Illinois Departtion. Families who put deposits There are already talks about prior to the pitch being thrown despite ment of Public Health to determine what down on their children’s travel postponing the sports season other leagues taking the precaution to high school programs can do during the teams before the pandemic also until January (though there move such umpire behind the pitcher to pandemic, teams were allowed to hold don’t want to feel like they burned money are many options the IHSA is contemplatabide by social distancing protocols. practice in and outdoors. There are playin a time where financial security is not a ing) while travel sports haven’t skipped a

I wish this was the first instance I have ers who participated in these out of state given. beat since April. seen travel teams take Illinois’ restoratournaments who came back and pracWith that said, there needs to be a realWhatever happens in the coming weeks tion plan as a mere suggestion rather than ticed with their high school teams. ity check here. (or, more realistically, months), travel a strict guideline to stunt the spread of This is not exclusive to baseball. There is still plenty we don’t know teams’ blasé approach to this situation is COVID-19. If you hop on high school basketball about coronavirus, including its long-term disheartening at best and a life-threaten

Yes, Illinois has had relative success in Twitter, you will find videos of prospects effects on our society. Younger people and ing safety hazard at worst.

On March 6, the Riverside-Brookfield High School boys’ basketball team defeated Glenbard South 67-53 to win its 3A regional championship. But little did I know that the Bulldogs’ victory would be the last sporting event I would cover for the IHSA 2019-2020 season as COVID-19 would wipe out high school sports the following week.

Obviously, the last few months have been difficult for all of us as we have had to adapt to a new lifestyle, one that prioritizes social distancing, washing hands, and wearing masks for health and safety reasons. When COVID-19 became widespread, the country along with the world virtually shut down as spread mitigation became vital.

Here in Illinois, we have overall handled the virus decently, compared to hotspot states like California, Florida, and Texas where hospitalization rates and deaths have soared to record levels. But now, our numbers are gradually creeping up again,

Make a decision, IHSA

and this has had a profound know wearing a mask prevents impact on the IHSA as it dethose who are vulnerable to cides whether to start up its fall the virus from contracting the sports season on time. illness. It’s all about keeping

I miss high school sports and people healthy so that we can would love to cover them this return to some semblance of fall (especially football, which normal life. is my first love). In my opinion, Next week, the IHSA Board each of the schools in our covof Directors will meet to detererage area have the potential to mine the fate of the fall sports have good teams this year, and I season. Options include flipdon’t want to miss out on it. But in order for us to have MELVIN ping fall sports to spring and vice versa. The problem with friday night lights and other fall high school sports, we have to TATE that is the IHSA runs the risk of having two spring sports bring our COVID numbers back Contributor seasons wiped out if things down like they were last month. don’t improve over the next few That means washing our hands weeks. regularly, maintaining social distancing Another possibility is starting the sports and, most importantly, wearing masks. year in January which would mean con

That last part is critical; many feel that densing all three seasons into a truncated mask-wearing is political and restricts year. Winter sports like basketball would freedom. However, medical data does start first, then fall sports like football in indicate that it significantly reduces the March, and spring sports like baseball in chances of the virus spreading. Moreover, May. This could create an issue for multiwhile I may not have any symptoms, I sport student-athletes as they would have to bounce quickly from one sport to the next. However, this could be the best solution in order to have sports this academic year.

Finally, the IHSA is deferring to the Illinois Department of Public Health as to how to proceed with sports. My problem with this is that the IDPH has already set guidelines for club and travel teams - which many high school student-athletes join during the summer - and they have been practicing and having competition. On the other hand, IHSA schools have been very limited in what they can do; primarily, they can’t have physical contact during workouts. To me, this is n’t fair - either let the IHSA schools follow the same guidelines as the travel teams or shut down the travel teams if the IHSA teams are restricted.

In any event, the IHSA needs to make a decision soon one way or the other. It’s dragged its feet long enough while dangling the hopes of both the student-athletes and their coaches. Let’s make a determination and move forward.