Rockford Sun

Belvidere High School Varsity Boy's Basketball coach Todd Brannan, hopes student-athletes will get the chance to play basketball this year.

"There’s a lot of frustration on a lot of levels … I feel like the IHSA stood up for the kids," said Brannan in an interview with Rockford Sun. 

"At the same point, I think it’s put a lot back on the individual districts as far as what they do to move forward," said Brannan.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker | File Photo

Last month, the IHSA decided to go against Gov. J.B. Pritzker's orders and continue with the season, Patch.com reported.

"The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors made the decision today to continue with the IHSA basketball season as scheduled in 2020-21," said the IHSA Board in a statement. 

"In August, the Board slated basketball to take place from November to February based on the Illinois Department of Public Health assigning a medium risk level to the sport. The IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee offered additional mitigations, such as masks during play and social distancing on benches, that the SMAC believed would allow basketball to be played safely," said the statement. 

Brannan said it's not an easy decision for anybody.

"Everyone wants the kids to play," said Brannan, "Everybody wants the kids to be able to play safely."

Brannan stated he believes the IHSA was fighting for kids.

"As the days passed since then ... it seems like it’s going to come back on the individual districts on how they move forward," said Brannan.

Brannan states from a mental health standpoint, kids need something positive to look forward to.

"Moving forward, you know, over the summer and in through the fall here … we’ve had nine weeks of strength training where we’ve adhered to all the protocols as far as the masks and sanitizing, social distancing and things like that and we’ve had probably 45 to 50 kids involved and we’ve not had one health issue," said Brannan. 

"I think it can be done. I think it can be done safely. The big thing is getting the people that are in charge to give us the go-ahead for it," said Brannan.

Brannan added that parents are clearly supporting it because none of them have opted their children out.

"Certainly, if they chose to opt-out we would certainly understand that given the circumstances...but, I feel like we can do it safely," sid Brannan.

Brannan stated that studies have shown that children who are involved in sports also thrive academically. He said he just wants kids to be able to have a chance to play.

"I would love to have the chance to try it," said Brannan.