Dupage Policy Journal

Illinois High School Association (IHSA)'s decision to defy Gov. J.B. Pritzker's attempts to put off basketball season over COVID-19 concerns is the right one, a school coach said during a recent interview.

"I trust and support the IHSA's decision," Lake Park High School Business teacher and Boys Basketball coach Billy Pitcher told DuPage Policy Journal. 

"I believe the IHSA is the expert in the area of what's best for the student-athletes of our state. They have always put the safety of athletes first and I believe this situation is no different," said Pitcher.

Pitcher's comments came after Pritzker, with guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), announced high school basketball and wrestling in the state would be "on hold." Pritzker's order came after the IDPH moved basketball from the "medium risk" category to "higher risk" in its winter safety guidelines

The day after Pritzker's announcement, IHSA's Board of Directors voted in a special meeting to proceed with the basketball season as scheduled. The board also set schedules for other sports, including "low risk sports" such as swimming and diving, cheerleading, bowling and gymnastics, according to an IHSA announcement.

The IHSA made those decisions following guidance from its Sport Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) and boys and girls basketball will begin practice on Nov. 26, according to the announcement.

Play can begin "within an Illinois COVID Region or within a conference" on Nov. 30, the announcement said.

Teams will follow limitations that allow a maximum of 31 games and masks will be worn by players, coaches, and officials during play, according to the IHSA announcement.

"It will become a local school decision to determine if a school will allow their basketball teams to participate following the guidelines developed by the SMAC," the IHSA announcement said.

Since the announcement, fewer than 34 high schools are certain their basketball seasons will start this month, according to Chicago Sun-Times sources.

Lake Park High School is one of those that is uncertain.

"Our school district and board has not made a decision yet on the season," said Pitcher.

Pitcher was named Illinois Basketball Coaches Association's 2019-2020 Coach of the Year, the second consecutive year that he received the honor.