BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois High School Association, the state’s governing body for high school athletics, will collaborate with state lawmakers over a bill that aims to allow student-athletes to compete in more sporting events not sanctioned by the IHSA while their high school seasons are going on.
The IHSA announced in a news release this week that it’s working with state Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago) and state Rep. Janet Yang Rohr (D-Naperville) to expand opportunities for student-athletes to compete in local and national sporting events, based on the two lawmakers’ work on House Bill 3037, known as the Right to Play Act.
The bill has passed the Illinois House and is currently awaiting further action in the Senate.
Right to Play Act
Yang Rohr introduced the bill to the Illinois General Assembly in early February, and Villivalam has sponsored it in the Senate. It addresses current IHSA bylaws, which prevent student-athletes who are competing in an IHSA-sanctioned sport from competing in the same sport for a non-school team or event during the high school season.
Currently, exceptions are made only for competing in that sport’s national team, such as Team USA in basketball.
Oftentimes, college coaches recruit student-athletes through non-school events, like club tournaments or elite national competition. By denying student-athletes in Illinois many of these opportunities because of current IHSA bylaws, it can be argued that they’re being negatively impacted in their efforts to compete beyond high school.
The Right to Play Act would provide more opportunities for non-school participation for high school students during their IHSA season.
"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," Villivalam said in this week’s IHSA release. "I am grateful for the continued collaboration between Representative Yang Rohr, IHSA and advocates who are working to address the concerns of many athletes."
The House voted, 68-39, on April 9 to pass the bill, but as The State Journal-Register reported, it’s a pared-down version of the original bill known as the Right to Play Act.
IHSA changes tune
When the Right to Play Act was initially introduced, the IHSA issued a strong statement against it, in which IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said, "The passage of House Bill 3037 would be devastating for high school sports in the state."
Anderson’s reasoning centered around concerns that if the bill were to pass, for-profit travel sports teams and organizations would boom in business and limit sports participation to only those who can afford it, which would ultimately greatly diminish traditional high school athletics.
But now, after the bill has passed the Illinois House and awaits action in the Senate, the IHSA says it’s willing to work with state lawmakers by updating its bylaws.
"We recognize that IHSA bylaws require occasional modifications," Anderson said in this week’s release. "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."
According to the release, a proposed IHSA bylaw update would address the issues raised by student-athletes by expanding the number and type of special events in which they’d be able to participate.
Each November, the release says, administrators from IHSA member schools attend Town Hall meetings to provide feedback on bylaw changes submitted by fellow schools. The IHSA’s elected Legislative Commission then votes on each proposal, putting the ones that receive majority support onto an all-school ballot, where each member school has one vote.
Matt Troha, IHSA Assistant Executive Director, confirmed to WGN-TV that Jan. 1 would be a realistic timeline for a newly approved bylaw to take effect.
"High school athletes and their families from across the state have raised their voices about the challenges they face," Yang Rohr said in the release. "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."
