IHSA Sets New Rules for Youth Football Practice

"These guidelines are based on the most recent scientific evidence, as well as the expertise of the coaches who will help implement them," said Dr. Preston M. Wolin, a member of the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.

The Illinois High School Association approved new safety rules Wednesday to limit tackling in youth football practice in an effort to reduce head injuries, reported the Daily Herald. In March, a controversial bill sponsored by State Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills) proposing to limit the number of days players could have full contact hitting practice (once a week) failed in the House committee. The new IHSA policy calls for coaches to gradually increase the time players can participate in preseason practice, along with the number of protective pads they can wear. On the seventh day of practice, players can participate in five hours of full contact drills wearing full pads, according to the IHSA. However, no single practice can exceed …

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Jacobs Dance Team Rocks The Season

The Jacobs Dance Team created this YouTube video when the team performed at several events during the 2012-2013 season. It was the first team to every qualify for an Illinois High School Association State bid. But the team promises it won’t be the last.

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Local Teams Square Off in First Round of Playoffs This Weekend

Jacobs High School will take on No. 2-seeded Boylan Catholic in Rockford on Saturday.

Several local high school football teams will square off in the first round of playoffs this Saturday.  Jacobs High School football team (5-4) will compete against No. 2-seeded Boylan Catholic (9-0) in Rockford at 1 p.m. on Saturday, according to the Illinois High School Association website.  Huntley High School (6-3) will play No. 7-seeded Fenwick High School (7-2) in Oak Park at 7 p.m. Saturday in Oak Park, according to the IHSA. No. 1-seeded Cary-Grove High School (9-0) will host Rockford's Auburn High School (5-4), a No. 16 seed, in the first round of the playoffs Saturday in class 6A. The game will kick off at 4 p.m. Saturday in Cary.  Also in class 6A, Hyde Park Academy High School (6-2) will travel to Crystal Lake Central High …

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Stephanie Price

9:55 pm on Friday, November 9, 2012

Congrats! Go Eagles!   more ›

Jacobs Wins Sectional Bass Fishing Tournament; Advances to State

The team of anglers will now compete in the state tournament, which will be held in May in southwestern Illinois.

 One area high school will advance to the Illinois High School Association state bass fishing tournament after placing first at an area sectional Thursday. H.D. Jacobs High School bass fishing team took that title. Head coach Jim Taege drove their boat. Anglers on the team included senior Scott Taege, junior Leo Dedic, senior T.J. Ehlers and freshman Kevin Martinez, according to the Illinois High School Association’s website. Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire) placed second and St. Viator High School (Arlington Heights) placed third in the tournament. Both schools will also advance to state. High school anglers headed out around 8 a.m. on the Chain O’ Lakes in Fox Lake with the tournament ending at 3 p.m., according to the IHSA website. …

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Four Years Later, IHSA Four-Class System Still Controversial

Proponents argue the system gives more teams the chance to take home trophies, while critics say it waters down the competition

When the Illinois High School Association decided in favor of class expansion for its athletic teams back in 2006, it was met with controversy. The proponents argued that it would give more teams the chance to take home trophies, while the critics said that it would water down the competition.  With the new three- and four-class systems now in their fourth year, the move still remains controversial. "I don't like it any better now than I did then. I just don't care for it," said Jacobs boys basketball coach Jim Hinkle, who is now in his 37th year as a high school head coach. "When they went to two classes it seemed to make decent sense. Now we're four, before you know it we'll be football." In 2001, football went to eight classes, and …

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Jacobs Draws Lake Zurich in 7A Playoffs

Golden Eagles seeded No. 11 in Class 7A.

The IHSA announced its football playoff pairings Saturday night. Jacobs found out that they are will be playing at Lake Zurich in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs. The IHSA decided to divide Class 7A into three separate brackets for travel purposes. The top bracket, which includes the Golden Eagles, consists of 16 teams from the north suburbs and the Rockford area. Jacobs (6-3) is the No. 11 seed while Lake Zurich (8-1) is the No. 5 seed. The Bears finished second in the North Suburban Lake Conference, with their only loss coming to conference champion Stevenson in week six. With a win, Jacobs would host either 13th seeded Rockford Guilford or No. 4 seed Mt. Prospect in the second round. The game will be held on Oct. 30 unless both…

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