The IHSA said Tuesday that it will defer to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois State Board of Education and the governor’s office on all of its return to play guidelines moving forward. The statement from the IHSA comes as the high school sports governing body was named in a lawsuit that aims to roll back the IHSA’s return to play guidelines.
Previous guidelines that the IHSA produced in Phase 3 and Phase 4 were approved through IDPH. According to the IHSA’s press release Tuesday, IDPH requested updated Phase 4 guidelines requiring greater emphasis on masks and eliminating scrimmages in sports that require physical contact.
Chicago Fire FC earned all three points in a 2-1 win in their opening match of the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando against defending MLS Cup champions Seattle Sounders FC. The Fire will play its second match against the San Jose Earthquakes Sunday night.
Anthony Rizzo is undergoing tests after being sidelined for a week because of lower back stiffness. The Cubs first baseman had an MRI yesterday. Manager David Ross said Rizzo suffered a recurrence of the stiffness after taking batting practice. The 30-year-old has a history of back ailments.
Chicago officials are agreeing to lift the limit on the number of Friday and Saturday night games at Wrigley Field during the upcoming pandemic-shortened MLB season. The Sun Times reports Mayor Lightfoot and Alderman Tom Tunney agreed to the temporary change to minimize the health risk to players. The one-year exception to the night-game ordinance is on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting of the City Council’s License Committee.
The Blues and Blackhawks will meet in an exhibition game later this month. It will be played July 29th at Rogers Place in Edmonton. It will be the first game for each team since the NHL shut down in March due to the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s not just some of the players who will be skipping the coming Major League Baseball season due to coronavirus concerns. Eleven umpires have opted out of the 2020 campaign so far. Some of them are believed to have family members who are ill. The season starts next Thursday.
The NFL and Players Association are negotiating terms for opt-out clauses. The union seeks opt-outs for at-risk players and those with at-risk families to be paid salaries, but not bonuses, if they decide not to play. A stipend is also being discussed in case training camp or the season are shut down.
NASCAR stops at Bristol Motor Speedway tonight for the 2020 All-Star Race. Up to 30-thousand fans are expected to be on hand, the largest sports crowd since the pandemic. Martin Truex Jr. is on the pole for the All-Star Race
NBA players are reportedly snitching on others in the bubble. The league’s snitch hotline in the bubble has received multiple tips about players violating protocols. Players have been reportedly warned about the consequences of actions in regards to violating protocol.