Prairie State Wire

Calling on Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to speak up about high school sports resuming play, state Rep. Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) said in a Jan. 21 tweet that it is time to let student athletes take the fields once again.

LaHood tweeted that high school sports play a critical role in the lives of students by teaching valuable lessons, as well as promoting physical and mental health. 

"Since your decision to halt contact sports here in Illinois, high schools in many other states around the country have successfully and responsibly undertaken their seasons, including schools in neighboring states like Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri and Kentucky," LaHood said in the tweet. 

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker | File photo

LaHood said that with no Illinois High School Association (IHSA) sports being held, students are flocking to schools outside of the state in order to play, or have switched to club teams that travel outside of Illinois for games or tournaments. Students who don't have the resources to leave the state may simply be missing out altogether on the activities they love.

LaHood called on Pritzker to work with schools, coaches, local health officials and the IHSA to safely resume contact sports as "low risk and medium risk" sports have been. LaHood seeks this being done as a way to encourage students who have left the state to return to Illinois schools, to retain any more students who may possibly leave and give all athletes back their activities. 

"Advanced and timely guidance from your office on all winter, spring and fall sports is necessary to ensure appropriate planning and safety measures can be met ahead of play resuming and not create further delay for students," LaHood said. 

Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 sports have already been cancelled throughout Illinois. The IHSA will meet later this month to discuss the fate of high school athletics for 2021. LaHood urges the governor to make his guidelines inclusive of all sports, citing the importance of athletics to a child's mental and physical health. 

"For students who are unable, or do not have the means to find an alternative to their school team, the toll of not having athletics in their life can be difficult," LaHood said. "I continue to hear from parents, coaches and athletic directors across the 18th Congressional District of Illinois who have shared their extensive concerns about increased depression, anxiety and other impacts on our students that are unable to have physical or athletic outlets in their life."

LaHood implored the governor to keep the students' best interests at heart.  

"It is time to reverse your position and allow high school sports to resume in full with appropriate safety measures," LaHood said.