Illinois: New Restrictions for Youth, and Adult Sports

[Youth Hockey Info]

The new restrictions affect school-based sports, like those overseen by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA), as well as recreational leagues, sports centers, park district leagues, and more. The restrictions do not include professional sports leagues or collegiate sports.

The restriction guidelines will put sports into three different risk levels: low, medium, and high. Pritzker said these restrictions are based on the amount of contact between athletes for each sport. “Think of these guidelines like a grid: three risk levels of sports and four tiers of levels of play based on current public health conditions,” Pritzker said.

While certain lower-risk sports can continue to be played, others, such as football, hockey, and lacrosse, must have contactless practice and training only. The restrictions would go into effect on Aug. 15. If counties start to see a rise in COVID-19 cases, Pritzker is encouraging local leaders to impose more restrictions.




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All Sports Guidance
This guidance pertains to all youth and adult recreational sports, including, but not limited to, school-based sports (IHSA
& IESA), travel clubs, private leagues and clubs, recreational leagues and centers, and park district sports programs. This
guidance does NOT pertain to professional sports leagues or college division level sports.
These guidelines do not apply to adult sport activities subject to existing DCEO guidance identified below:
• For golf, refer to existing guidance on the DCEO website.
• For tennis, refer to existing guidance on the DCEO website.
This guidance will be regularly updated as public health conditions change and new information becomes available.
Sports are categorized based on their inherent risk level, dictated by the amount of contact between athletes and their
proximity during play.


Sports Risk Levels
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HIGHER
Boxing - Risk Level: Higher
Competitive Cheer - Risk Level:  Higher
Competitive Dance - Risk Level:  Higher
Football - Risk Level:  Higher
Hockey - Risk Level:  Higher
Lacrosse - Risk Level:  Higher
Martial Arts - Risk Level:  Higher
Rugby - Risk Level:  Higher
Ultimate Frisbee - Risk Level: Higher
Wrestling - Risk Level:  Higher
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MEDIUM
Basketball - Risk Level:  Medium
Fencing - Risk Level:  Medium
Flag Football or 7v7 Football - Risk Level:  Medium
Paintball - Risk Level:  Medium
Racquetball - Risk Level:  Medium
Soccer - Risk Level:  Medium
Volleyball - Risk Level:  Medium
Water Polo - Risk Level:  Medium
Wheelchair Basketball - Risk Level:  Medium
Archery - Risk Level:  Lower
Badminton - Risk Level:  Lower
Baseball - Risk Level:  Lower if at least 6-feet apart in dugout areas, or
players seated 6-feet apart in bleachers behind
dugout, otherwise considered Medium
Bass Fishing - Risk Level:  Lower if limit number of individuals on boat to
allow for social distancing, otherwise Medium
Bowling - Risk Level:  Lower
Climbing - Risk Level:  Lower
Crew - Risk Level:  Lower
Cross Country - Risk Level:  Lower if number of teams is significantly limited
and physical workspace guidelines followed
Cycling - Risk Level:  Lower if individual or use only every other track
in velodrome, otherwise Medium
Disc Golf - Risk Level:  Lower
Scholastic Golf - Risk Level:  Lower
Gymnastics - Risk Level:  Lower if able to clean equipment between
participants, otherwise Medium
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LOWER
Horseback Riding - Risk Level:  Lower
Ice Skating - Risk Level:  Lower if singles only, otherwise Higher
Ropes Courses - Risk Level:  Lower if able to socially distance and clean
between each individual, otherwise Higher
Sailing, Canoeing, Kayaking - Risk Level:  Lower if limited number on boat to socially distance, otherwise Higher
Sideline Spirit - Risk Level:  Lower if 6-feet apart and no stunts or lifts,
otherwise Higher
Skateboarding - Risk Level:  Lower
Softball - Risk Level:  Lower if at least 6-feet apart in dugout areas, or
players seated 6-feet apart in bleachers behind dugout, otherwise considered Medium
Swimming/Diving - Risk Level:  Lower if restricted to single lane and singles
diving; no relays, synchronized swimming, or paired diving, otherwise Medium
Tennis - Risk Level:  Lower
Track and Field - Risk Level:  Lower if delayed starts, every other track, and
cleaning of equipment between usage; otherwise Medium
Weight Lifting - Risk Level:  Lower if able to clean between each individual,
otherwise Medium
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The level of play allowed is dictated by current public health conditions.
Below are the Type of Play Levels:
Level 1: No-contact practices and trainings only
Level 2: Intra-team scrimmages allowed, with parental consent for minors; no competitive play
Level 3: Intra-conference or Intra-EMS-region1 or intra-league play/meets only; state- or league-championship game/meet allowed for low-risk sports only
Level 4: Tournaments, out-of-conference/league play, multi-team meets, out-of-state play allowed; championship games allowed
Current Conditions Allow for the Following Types of Play per Sport Risk Level:
• Lower-risk sports can currently play at Levels 1, 2, and 3
• Medium-risk sports can currently play at Level 1 and 2
• Higher-risk sports can currently play at Level 1
1 EMS Regions are the 11 regions IDPH uses for the Restore Illinois boundaries

[Guest]

Interesting how basketball is medium.....

[Guest]

Interesting how basketball is medium.....

And Soccer. I don't see any difference between football, hockey, basketball and soccer.

[Guest]

Coronavirus Contact Tracing Leads To Several Montgomery County Youth Sports

Several youth sports teams in Montgomery County have already had to quarantine for 14 days due to a coach testing positive for Covid and the teams not social distancing.

[Guest]

Team in Saskatchewan hid players names and changed team name to cross regions to play a tournament. Officials say next time it happens, it will be "met with enforcement."

Saskatchewan hockey teams attend out-of-province tournament under blanket of

Tip: if your coach or team managers tells you or your child not to post to social media because it might create "controversy," there is probably a good reason not to be going in the first place. And again, a coach, team manager or other parent telling children to do something unethical is a SafeSport violation and will be reported.