IHSA Phase 4 Return to Play is Approved starts July 5

sporthog_9er

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With the governors orders being ruled unconstitutional yesterday, I'd like to see what happens with a school who defies the capacity limits and 50 person limits. Until something changes in a court, which could take awhile, all the phasing and orders the governor has put in place are null and void. If the IDPH and IHSA are using those orders, they don't exist anymore legally.

I'm not arguing if anybody should or should not, but an interesting hypothetical has really come up with the court ruling yesterday. Many schools will say they want to abide by the IHSA and IDPH, but on legal grounds they don't necessarily have to at this moment. There's no jurisdiction that can enforce them.

There may be quite a few southern/central IL squads that take some liberation with this. Something to monitor.
 
Sep 24, 2009
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With the governors orders being ruled unconstitutional yesterday, I'd like to see what happens with a school who defies the capacity limits and 50 person limits. Until something changes in a court, which could take awhile, all the phasing and orders the governor has put in place are null and void. If the IDPH and IHSA are using those orders, they don't exist anymore legally.

I'm not arguing if anybody should or should not, but an interesting hypothetical has really come up with the court ruling yesterday. Many schools will say they want to abide by the IHSA and IDPH, but on legal grounds they don't necessarily have to at this moment. There's no jurisdiction that can enforce them.

There may be quite a few southern/central IL squads that take some liberation with this. Something to monitor.

The question beyond (state law) legality would be the ability of the IHSA to sanction/penalize a member school for operating outside of the return to play guidelines. I imagine every member automatically agrees to the sanctioning authority of the IHSA upon becoming a member.
 
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sporthog_9er

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@No Bias---Just Reality I thought about that, but I believe all these would have to be written into IHSA by laws (and voted on) to have any sanctioning effect. These return to play documents all reference following the governors Restore Illinois phasing orders. Well, the Restore Illinois orders and phases are not legal anymore. Huge gray area right now!
 

Anon1754760634

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@No Bias---Just Reality I thought about that, but I believe all these would have to be written into IHSA by laws (and voted on) to have any sanctioning effect. These return to play documents all reference following the governors Restore Illinois phasing orders. Well, the Restore Illinois orders and phases are not legal anymore. Huge gray area right now!
Disagree many over the years have unsuccessfully challenge IHSA membership..and the same issue arises...which is IHSA remains a "voluntary" organization. Don't like the rules? Leave. Again I'm well aware of the various arguments....but this has been the consistent ruling in these cases so....
 

sporthog_9er

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Totally agree Edgy on that, just pointing out something that could come up. When the IHSA is saying these are the rules based off the Gov restore orders, and those orders are found to be illegal from a court of law, there can be crazy different interpretation of that. Anyways glad to see boys can start increasing work next week. Carry on.
 
Sep 24, 2009
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Totally agree Edgy on that, just pointing out something that could come up. When the IHSA is saying these are the rules based off the Gov restore orders, and those orders are found to be illegal from a court of law, there can be crazy different interpretation of that. Anyways glad to see boys can start increasing work next week. Carry on.

1. I find it a pretty easy interpretation: the return to play guidelines are BASED off of the states plan not dependent upon it.

2. The IHSA being be the governing body to which you choose to belong has the administrative authority to make the interpretation they see fit. Their interpretation is all that really matters.
 

johnndoe

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Oct 19, 2019
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This progress is all well and good plus affords the ability to get some contact days and real prep in before the theoretical starting date of 8/10. However, parents and coaches alike should prepare the kids emotionally for some non-stakeholder dashing their hopes when push comes to shove with the actual final decision about the season. Hope for the best news, but be prepared for the worst.
 

Anon1754760634

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May 29, 2001
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This progress is all well and good plus affords the ability to get some contact days and real prep in before the theoretical starting date of 8/10. However, parents and coaches alike should prepare the kids emotionally for some non-stakeholder dashing their hopes when push comes to shove with the actual final decision about the season. Hope for the best news, but be prepared for the worst.
 
Sep 24, 2009
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This progress is all well and good plus affords the ability to get some contact days and real prep in before the theoretical starting date of 8/10. However, parents and coaches alike should prepare the kids emotionally for some non-stakeholder dashing their hopes when push comes to shove with the actual final decision about the season. Hope for the best news, but be prepared for the worst.

While I complete agree “stuff” could still go awry... correct me if my thinking is wrong but since this plan covers everyting including competitions, fan capacity/spacing, concessions, etc. The only way they could really pull back now from playing would be if the state were to go back to phase 3 from the current phase 4 and this would also mandate schools closing again since being in school is a phase 4 item. And obviously if not in school there isn’t sports. So I can’t see them saying (with any legitimacy) that we are staying in phase 4 as a state and we are going to school in-person but oh by they way sports are cancelled.
 
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jonathandoe

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While I complete agree “stuff” could still go awry... correct me if my thinking is wrong but since this plan covers everyting including competitions, fan capacity/spacing, concessions, etc. The only way they could really pull back now from playing would be if the state were to go back to phase 3 from the current phase 4 and this would also mandate schools closing again since being in school is a phase 4 item. And obviously if not in school there isn’t sports. So I can’t see them saying (with any legitimacy) that we are staying in phase 4 as a state and we are going to school in-person but oh by they way sports are cancelled.
You know, continuing to read closely, this IHSA Phase 4 as defined is limited to protocol for summer contact day activities only (not in-season), whose sole contests are basically 7-on-7s, which should satisfy a 20% of the facility attendance limit requirement. Also, we can not assume in-person school must equate with return of football specifically. The NFHS has classified football, and a few other sports, with a high risk designation, which would prevent these from being contested while others ones could proceed.
 

mc140

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Something I could see being mandated is if you want to play sports you must also choose in person learning if your district ends up offering both options.
 
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Sep 24, 2009
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You know, continuing to read closely, this IHSA Phase 4 as defined is limited to protocol for summer contact day activities only (not in-season), whose sole contests are basically 7-on-7s, which should satisfy a 20% of the facility attendance limit requirement. Also, we can not assume in-person school must equate with return of football specifically. The NFHS has classified football, and a few other sports, with a high risk designation, which would prevent these from being contested while others ones could proceed.

We need to get someone to get an official statement from the IHSA about this argument we are having about what competition they are talking about. They just say competition, they talk about officials, they talk about fan capacity, and they even address concession stands. No where do they explicitly say this does not apply to regular season play. I’m not saying you’re wrong or others who assume this only applies to summer but I also don’t see where it makes it clear it is ONLY about summer. What summer “competition” has concession stands open? Since they are explicitly addressed in the document as okay to be open.
 

FCHS2019

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Where this season will go completely nuts is if one of the 4 regions goes back to Stage 3, schools in that region are closed and sports are halted... then the IHSA has a mess on their hands..
 

mc140

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So what would the IHSA playoffs look like without the Chicago area schools?????? Every eligible team would be in the playoffs and schools of 1000 kids would be 7A or 8A

Then that is what happens. The other option is cancelling. Neither is good and one is worse.
 
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sporthog_9er

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If people try to file injunctions over a playoff outcome where they think the refs were comprised from a sideline person, there will be lawsuits filed over cancelling a season/team not allowed to play while others can/or anything else that takes away opportunities.
 
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sporthog_9er

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Nobody said legal action would come to ihsa. Could be isbe, IDPH. They already have a court date next week regarding the fall guidelines.
 

FCHS2019

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Nobody said legal action would come to ihsa. Could be isbe, IDPH. They already have a court date next week regarding the fall guidelines.

Exactly, I have already seen groups positioning themselves to get the courts involved, and if we do have a region that goes back to stage 3 and different parts of the states are treated differently the courts could become busy..
 
Sep 24, 2009
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Per reports on Twitter there is some sort of snafu and some concern that all approval hasn’t been gained from the state that IHSA announced. Stay tuned... :eek:

Any insight @EdgyTim ?