By Isaac Shiner-
The world wide public health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus has caused many changes for Ida Crown Jewish Academy athletes. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued guidelines that detail plans and restrictions to keep athletes safe. Also, Ida Crown Jewish Academy plans to continue to set forth their own guidelines which many go above and beyond those of the IDPH and IHSA. Rabbi Matanky, the dean of Ida Crown, explained in an email that “whether or not our interscholastic sports will begin is still up in the air and dependent on IHSA, IDPH, and our medical committee.” The IDPH organized sports into categories of higher risk, medium risk, and lower risk. The sports played by Ida Crown athletes are all detailed. Wrestling is considered higher risk. Basketball, fencing, and soccer are considered medium risk. Baseball and cross country are considered lower risk. Additionally, IDPH policy puts together four levels of play. Higher risk sports are allowed to play at level one, meaning only no-contact practices and training is permitted. Medium risk sports are allowed at levels one and two, meaning intra-team scrimmages are allowed with parental consent for minors. Still, no competitive play is permitted. Lower risk sports are allowed to play at levels one, two, and three, meaning intra-conference or intra-EMS-region or intra-league play and meets are allowed.
Ida Crown Jewish Academy is prepared to have their own guidelines that may go above and beyond those of the state. Already, the school chose to begin the fall cross country season late even though IDPH allows intra-conference or intra-EMS-region or intra-league play/meets and state-or league-championship game/meet for Cross Country since the session began. At first, Cross Country was only meeting for practices, but they also participated in several meets this season.
Pelah Cohen, a senior on the ICJA cross country team explained at the start of the season that she’s, “a little upset that we’re not going to be racing against other schools,” but “I think it was a good idea for them to cancel (postpone).”
Ida Crown Athletic Director Coach Brittany Peters, explained that “staying open for in-person learning is our priority, we chose to limit (to the best of our ability) our student's exposure to other athletes from around the city.” And, “Between IHSA guidelines, IDPH approval, and ICJA decisions, this is a very fluid situation and may end up being a very last minute decision for some of our sports.”
Noah Broady, a senior who has spent his first three years at ICJA petitioning the school administration to start a boys soccer team, expressed his desire for the first season to start this year. The season was originally scheduled for the fall, but is now tentatively scheduled for the spring. He explained that “after all the hard work put in after four years, I would be devastated if the season were cancelled.” S
till, the situation remains uncertain and the IDPH will continue to regularly update their guidance as public health conditions change and new information becomes available. Also, ICJA policy regarding sports remains uncertain and is not finalized and the administration still reserves the right to cancel sports seasons or add restrictions.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker explained at a press briefing in October that the status of winter sports remains precarious, stating that““As with sports in the fall, nothing is ‘cancelled,’ just put on hold until we’re through the thick of this pandemic. We adapt as we learn. We know this virus is of most concern when people are indoors with high contact, especially in vigorous situations that bring about heavy breathing — like in wrestling, hockey and basketball.”
The world wide public health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus has caused many changes for Ida Crown Jewish Academy athletes. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) has issued guidelines that detail plans and restrictions to keep athletes safe. Also, Ida Crown Jewish Academy plans to continue to set forth their own guidelines which many go above and beyond those of the IDPH and IHSA. Rabbi Matanky, the dean of Ida Crown, explained in an email that “whether or not our interscholastic sports will begin is still up in the air and dependent on IHSA, IDPH, and our medical committee.” The IDPH organized sports into categories of higher risk, medium risk, and lower risk. The sports played by Ida Crown athletes are all detailed. Wrestling is considered higher risk. Basketball, fencing, and soccer are considered medium risk. Baseball and cross country are considered lower risk. Additionally, IDPH policy puts together four levels of play. Higher risk sports are allowed to play at level one, meaning only no-contact practices and training is permitted. Medium risk sports are allowed at levels one and two, meaning intra-team scrimmages are allowed with parental consent for minors. Still, no competitive play is permitted. Lower risk sports are allowed to play at levels one, two, and three, meaning intra-conference or intra-EMS-region or intra-league play and meets are allowed.
Ida Crown Jewish Academy is prepared to have their own guidelines that may go above and beyond those of the state. Already, the school chose to begin the fall cross country season late even though IDPH allows intra-conference or intra-EMS-region or intra-league play/meets and state-or league-championship game/meet for Cross Country since the session began. At first, Cross Country was only meeting for practices, but they also participated in several meets this season.
Pelah Cohen, a senior on the ICJA cross country team explained at the start of the season that she’s, “a little upset that we’re not going to be racing against other schools,” but “I think it was a good idea for them to cancel (postpone).”
Ida Crown Athletic Director Coach Brittany Peters, explained that “staying open for in-person learning is our priority, we chose to limit (to the best of our ability) our student's exposure to other athletes from around the city.” And, “Between IHSA guidelines, IDPH approval, and ICJA decisions, this is a very fluid situation and may end up being a very last minute decision for some of our sports.”
Noah Broady, a senior who has spent his first three years at ICJA petitioning the school administration to start a boys soccer team, expressed his desire for the first season to start this year. The season was originally scheduled for the fall, but is now tentatively scheduled for the spring. He explained that “after all the hard work put in after four years, I would be devastated if the season were cancelled.” S
till, the situation remains uncertain and the IDPH will continue to regularly update their guidance as public health conditions change and new information becomes available. Also, ICJA policy regarding sports remains uncertain and is not finalized and the administration still reserves the right to cancel sports seasons or add restrictions.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker explained at a press briefing in October that the status of winter sports remains precarious, stating that““As with sports in the fall, nothing is ‘cancelled,’ just put on hold until we’re through the thick of this pandemic. We adapt as we learn. We know this virus is of most concern when people are indoors with high contact, especially in vigorous situations that bring about heavy breathing — like in wrestling, hockey and basketball.”
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