The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors recently voted to follow the advice of medical experts in continuing with longstanding plans for the coming basketball season, despite a decree from Gov. J.B. Pritzker that he is firmly against anyone in Illinois playing basketball this season out of fear of COVID-19.

Pritzker had moved basketball from the “medium risk” category to the “high risk” category of classification under his latest directives, according to coverage by Patch.

In a statement released regarding the IHSA decision, the board said they are proceeding under the best guidance provided by the IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, according to Patch.

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One Eastern Illinois boys basketball coach, who asked to remain anonymous, recently told the Peoria Standard that he has long felt local school districts and families should be the ones making the decisions regarding what is best for student athletes.

"Now that we know so much more about COVID 19 than in the spring, it appears that the risk for healthy teenagers is very very low," the coach told the Peoria Standard. 

"I am glad the IHSA is ignoring Gov. Pritzker's order," said the coach.

Though he did not name specific agency or organization, Pritzker responded to the IHSA decision by claiming that he was following “the guidance from national orgs, physicians that treat kids, the experts in sports medicine” in issuing his decree that contradicts the named experts in sports medicine the IHSA consulted in reaching its decision.

While the Illinois Department of Public Health has remained vague about its guidance and reasoning, downstate high schools haven't had any problems with outbreaks as far as he has heard, the coach said.

"Seems more prudent to learn how to manage the disease, and go about our daily lives at the same time," the coach told the Peoria Standard, "Not shut everything down."

What happens to the season overall comes down to the decision by the local school board, stated the coach.

The coach told the Peoria Standard that the ultimate decision will reside with school administrations, rather than with coaches or the IHSA. 

"I think much of it depends on insurance," he said.

However, until they have an answer, coaches will make certain they are ready.

"Until our school boards meet, we are planning for a basketball season," the coach told the Peoria Standard.