Prep soccer in June?
Players, coaches, IHSA are interested
By Steve Millar
Flexibility will be needed if some form of a high school girls soccer season is going to be salvaged, should we all be fortunate enough to have coronavirus concerns subside enough for that to be possible.
The Illinois High School Association, as well as local players and coaches, are keeping their minds and options open.
The bottom line for players, especially seniors like Lemont’s Erin Crispo, is they just want to play in some capacity.
“It’s very important to me, because this is my last season playing soccer for Lemont,” said Crispo, a 2019 Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater. “I thought our team had a lot of potential when we practiced. I know we can give a lot of effort if the season does happen.
“Any chance to play for Lemont is awesome. It’s a great experience. Even if it’s in June, I’d love to do it.”
Crispo was reacting to a statement released Wednesday that said “the IHSA Board of Directors has been highly supportive of creating an exemption to the IHSA Season Limitation By-law to allow spring sports to play into late June, but competing into or beyond July is not being considered at this time.”
While extending the season that far into the summer would create some challenges, most seem eager and willing to make it work.
IHSA assistant executive director Matt Troha said the organization may even consider allowing players to participate for both their high school teams and club/travel teams concurrently, making an exception to a rule that forbids players to do both within the same season.
“We haven’t officially crossed that bridge yet but have had some discussions as a staff about it,” Troha said. “I think it is a possibility that an exemption could be made given the unprecedented circumstances.”
Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari expects the vast majority of his players would be on board to play for the Tigers into late June, club rule exemption or not.
“I think if they have an opportunity to enter into a state tournament via their high school team, I think they would be all for that,” Callipari said. “I’d hope the clubs would be open to them getting that type of closure.
“I also don’t think everyone is going to be making plans to get out of town right away. I think there’s going to be an acclimation period. So, I don’t know if those big, travel tournaments will be happening right away.”
Crispo agreed that most players would give their high schools teams preference under the circumstances.
“For us seniors, we won’t have a club season this summer,” she said. “I know some of the juniors or sophomores might have some interference there, but I think most of our girls really want a high school season and really want to play together, even if it’s in June. I think we all would be fine and ready to play.”
All local USYS local and national tournaments have been cancelled in June said Naperville Central boys coach Troy Adams. The only conflict currently would be with the ECNL.
There are, of course, other logistical issues the IHSA would have to deal with.
“If we are able to get back in school and conduct the IHSA State Series, we still believe it is possible that some schools will not participate, or others may, but not be allowed to host,” Troha said. “So, there could be additional hurdles to clear with scheduling and venues.
“Certainly, the lack of games and opportunity to create a résumé would make things like seeding more difficult. There are also many unknowns in terms of will fans be allowed, and if so, how many.”
One thing that is not a huge concern, according to Troha, is the availability of referees.
“We feel confident about our ability to cover the contests,” he said. “It is possible that in the earlier rounds when there are more games, we could have to stagger games in order to make sure we have enough to cover certain geographic areas depending on who hosts, but overall, we expect to be in a solid position.”
The IHSA’s release that left open the possibility of resumption of spring sports, while states such as Indiana have already canceled, provided players and coaches with a bit of optimism.
In the meantime, they are trying to stay engaged as best as they can while being isolated from each other.
“We meet every day on Zoom,” Callipari said. “We work out together. I’ll lead them. We’ve been doing workouts Monday through Friday. Now, we’re going to go to a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule for muscle, endurance and strength, and Tuesdays and Thursdays for skill work and/or cardio work.
“On the more technical side, I invested into a module called Lab 360. I’m able to assign a particular module, like defensive shifting and the principles of marking cover balance. The girls will watch a video then take a quiz. They’ll get their scores, then I can graph that.”
Callipari said the Tigers will find some way to have the 2020 team come together, even if it’s not in a state competition.
“I think it’s going to go one of three ways,” he said. “Either, we’re going to get back and some of the season will be salvaged and we’ll have a state finals. Or, that will all be wiped out, but maybe the conference (DuKane) will try to throw something ourselves at the end. The conference is keen on doing something, maybe a conference tournament.
“The third option is we’d do something independently.”
Lemont players, both current and former, have been sharing their favorite memories on social media.
“We’re having kids currently in the program and alums from the program reminiscing about their favorite moments,” Lemont coach Rick Prangen said. “We’re trying to take a step back and have kids who have gone through the program remember how special it was, and for kids currently in the program to think about how special it can be.”
Prangen is trying to remain realistic, while staying hopeful.
“If this doesn’t go off, I don’t want to give false hope to our kids,” he said. “You have to walk a fine line between keeping things in perspective and also giving hope.
“If it can happen, though, I think every coach and player would want to do it. Give us a week to get reacclimated and then go right into playing. Maybe just play your conference teams and then into a state tournament. If you needed to condense the state tournament into two weeks, I’m sure that could happen.”
Matt Le Cren contributed to this story.
Players, coaches, IHSA are interested
By Steve Millar
Flexibility will be needed if some form of a high school girls soccer season is going to be salvaged, should we all be fortunate enough to have coronavirus concerns subside enough for that to be possible.
The Illinois High School Association, as well as local players and coaches, are keeping their minds and options open.
The bottom line for players, especially seniors like Lemont’s Erin Crispo, is they just want to play in some capacity.
“It’s very important to me, because this is my last season playing soccer for Lemont,” said Crispo, a 2019 Chicagoland Soccer All-Stater. “I thought our team had a lot of potential when we practiced. I know we can give a lot of effort if the season does happen.
“Any chance to play for Lemont is awesome. It’s a great experience. Even if it’s in June, I’d love to do it.”
Crispo was reacting to a statement released Wednesday that said “the IHSA Board of Directors has been highly supportive of creating an exemption to the IHSA Season Limitation By-law to allow spring sports to play into late June, but competing into or beyond July is not being considered at this time.”
While extending the season that far into the summer would create some challenges, most seem eager and willing to make it work.
IHSA assistant executive director Matt Troha said the organization may even consider allowing players to participate for both their high school teams and club/travel teams concurrently, making an exception to a rule that forbids players to do both within the same season.
“We haven’t officially crossed that bridge yet but have had some discussions as a staff about it,” Troha said. “I think it is a possibility that an exemption could be made given the unprecedented circumstances.”
Wheaton Warrenville South coach Guy Callipari expects the vast majority of his players would be on board to play for the Tigers into late June, club rule exemption or not.
“I think if they have an opportunity to enter into a state tournament via their high school team, I think they would be all for that,” Callipari said. “I’d hope the clubs would be open to them getting that type of closure.
“I also don’t think everyone is going to be making plans to get out of town right away. I think there’s going to be an acclimation period. So, I don’t know if those big, travel tournaments will be happening right away.”
Crispo agreed that most players would give their high schools teams preference under the circumstances.
“For us seniors, we won’t have a club season this summer,” she said. “I know some of the juniors or sophomores might have some interference there, but I think most of our girls really want a high school season and really want to play together, even if it’s in June. I think we all would be fine and ready to play.”
All local USYS local and national tournaments have been cancelled in June said Naperville Central boys coach Troy Adams. The only conflict currently would be with the ECNL.
There are, of course, other logistical issues the IHSA would have to deal with.
“If we are able to get back in school and conduct the IHSA State Series, we still believe it is possible that some schools will not participate, or others may, but not be allowed to host,” Troha said. “So, there could be additional hurdles to clear with scheduling and venues.
“Certainly, the lack of games and opportunity to create a résumé would make things like seeding more difficult. There are also many unknowns in terms of will fans be allowed, and if so, how many.”
One thing that is not a huge concern, according to Troha, is the availability of referees.
“We feel confident about our ability to cover the contests,” he said. “It is possible that in the earlier rounds when there are more games, we could have to stagger games in order to make sure we have enough to cover certain geographic areas depending on who hosts, but overall, we expect to be in a solid position.”
The IHSA’s release that left open the possibility of resumption of spring sports, while states such as Indiana have already canceled, provided players and coaches with a bit of optimism.
In the meantime, they are trying to stay engaged as best as they can while being isolated from each other.
“We meet every day on Zoom,” Callipari said. “We work out together. I’ll lead them. We’ve been doing workouts Monday through Friday. Now, we’re going to go to a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule for muscle, endurance and strength, and Tuesdays and Thursdays for skill work and/or cardio work.
“On the more technical side, I invested into a module called Lab 360. I’m able to assign a particular module, like defensive shifting and the principles of marking cover balance. The girls will watch a video then take a quiz. They’ll get their scores, then I can graph that.”
Callipari said the Tigers will find some way to have the 2020 team come together, even if it’s not in a state competition.
“I think it’s going to go one of three ways,” he said. “Either, we’re going to get back and some of the season will be salvaged and we’ll have a state finals. Or, that will all be wiped out, but maybe the conference (DuKane) will try to throw something ourselves at the end. The conference is keen on doing something, maybe a conference tournament.
“The third option is we’d do something independently.”
Lemont players, both current and former, have been sharing their favorite memories on social media.
“We’re having kids currently in the program and alums from the program reminiscing about their favorite moments,” Lemont coach Rick Prangen said. “We’re trying to take a step back and have kids who have gone through the program remember how special it was, and for kids currently in the program to think about how special it can be.”
Prangen is trying to remain realistic, while staying hopeful.
“If this doesn’t go off, I don’t want to give false hope to our kids,” he said. “You have to walk a fine line between keeping things in perspective and also giving hope.
“If it can happen, though, I think every coach and player would want to do it. Give us a week to get reacclimated and then go right into playing. Maybe just play your conference teams and then into a state tournament. If you needed to condense the state tournament into two weeks, I’m sure that could happen.”
Matt Le Cren contributed to this story.