IHSA Announces Collaboration With State Senator Ram Villivalam & State
Representative Janet Yang Rohr To Expand Opportunities For
Student-Athletes
[May 14, 2025]
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.”
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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.
[Matt Troha
Illinois High School Association
Assistant Executive Director]
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