Illinois high school athletes may soon see expanded opportunities to compete in more local and national sporting events, thanks to a new joint effort between the Illinois High School Association, State Senator Ram Villivalam, and State Representative Janet Yang Rohr. The initiative, built around the Right to Play Act (House Bill 3037), seeks to update IHSA bylaws that currently restrict students from participating with non-school teams during their high school season. Proposed changes aim to allow greater flexibility, potentially helping athletes pursue scholarships and play more of the sports they love. Feedback from student-athletes, coaches, and communities has played a crucial role in shaping these upcoming reforms.
“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.”
“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.”
“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.
