State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, D-Naperville, and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) are announcing their work together to expand opportunities for student athletes to compete in local and national sporting events, based on their work on the Right to Play Act (House Bill 3037).
“Through this measure, we are helping to connect youth in our communities to further opportunities, such as college scholarships, and allowing them more time to play a sport they enjoy before they graduate,” said Sen. Villivalam. “I am grateful for the continued collaboration between Representative Yang Rohr, IHSA and advocates who are working to address the concerns of many athletes.”
Currently, IHSA by-laws prevent in-season IHSA student athletes from competing in the same sport for a non-school team or event during the high school season, with exceptions made for competing for that sport’s national team (e.g., Team USA in basketball). House Bill 3037, known as the Right To Play Act and sponsored by Sen. Villivalam and Rep. Yang Rohr, would provide more opportunities for non-school participation for high school students during their IHSA season.
“We recognize that IHSA by-laws require occasional modifications,” said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. “We appreciate Senator Villivalam and Representative Yang Rohr’s focus on serving their constituents. Their willingness to incorporate feedback from IHSA coaches and stakeholders and work within the existing IHSA framework was equally important, as the IHSA has been governed by member schools for over 100 years.”
A proposed IHSA by-law update would address the issues raised by student-athletes by expanding the number and type of special events in which a student-athlete would be able to participate. Each November, administrators from IHSA member schools attend Town Hall meetings to provide feedback on by-law changes submitted by fellow schools. The IHSA’s elected Legislative Commission then votes on each proposal, putting those that receive majority support onto an all-school ballot, where each member school has one vote.
“High school athletes and their families from across the state have raised their voices about the challenges they face,” Rep. Yang Rohr said. “IHSA’s guidelines help prevent overuse injuries and support high school sports, while also giving student-athletes more flexibility. I appreciate Sen. Villivalam and IHSA representatives for their work to create solutions that work for parents, schools and communities.”
The IHSA is a private, not-for-profit organization headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois. The Association was founded in 1900 and has grown to include over 800-member high schools in Illinois.
