CHICAGO, Ill. — A group of student-athletes and their parents plan to file a class action lawsuit against the Illinois High School Association. The suit aims to restore fall sports amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
According to a press release, the class action suit will be filed in DuPage County, and will list the IHSA as the primary defendant.
A total of 20 students are expected to be listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which will seek a temporary restraining order ordering the state to allow fall sports to get underway.
The suit alleges that prohibitions on some fall sports, including football and volleyball, violates the IHSA’s constitution and bylaws, and has “caused mental health issues and financial hardships” for athletes and their families, according to the release.
Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that the decision to postpone fall sports will have negative financial impacts on both students and parents, as they will fall behind in their ability to compete for athletic scholarships to make college more affordable.
The IHSA, along with Illinois Gov. J-B Pritzker, have remained adamant that contact sports like football and volleyball will be pushed to the spring due to the pandemic.
Surrounding states have begun playing football, leaving Illinois as the only one in the Midwest not allowing high school football to take place.
Pritzker has said infectious disease experts are still recommending pushing fall sports to the spring due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19.
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