April 19, 2024

High school sports: IDPH guidelines will allow for 20% capacity for outdoor sports

Regions in Phase 4 can have up to 20% capacity for outdoor events

March 08, 2021 at 12:20 pm CST

File photo: Football fans watch Joliet Central takes on Rich South from the top of a press box Friday, Sept. 4, in Joliet. Joliet lost to Rich South, 46-20. Photo by Lathan Goumas - lgoumas@shawmedia.com (Lathan Goumas)

The IHSA released a statement Monday regarding an increase of attendance for outdoor sports, per the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The IDPH will allow schools in regions under Phase 4 of COVID-19 guidelines to have up to 20% capacity for outdoor events. Currently, there is a limit of 50 spectators for indoor events.

Football and boys soccer are the sports with seasons coming up that will be played outdoors. Girls volleyball, which also will start with matches soon, will remain at the limit of 50 spectators since it is played indoors.

With this change, schools will be able to allow many more fans than they have had for basketball games. For example, a stadium with 2,000 capacity would have 400 fans; one with 3,000 could have 600.

Joe Stevenson

I have worked at the Northwest Herald since January of 1989, covering everything from high school to professional sports. I mainly cover high school sports now.