SPRINGFIELD, IL (Chambana Today) – A House committee in Illinois advanced a bill on Wednesday that would grant high school student athletes the right to participate in both school-sponsored teams and non-school teams for the same sport simultaneously. The proposed legislation, House Bill 3037, known as the “Right to Play Act,” would override current rules set by the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), which regulates student eligibility and typically prohibits dual participation during a sport’s high school season.
Supporters of the bill argue that the current IHSA rules disqualify students over minor infractions, such as participating in charity events or dance competitions, leading to unfair outcomes. Rep. Janet Yang-Rohr, D-Naperville, who sponsors the bill, cited instances where athletes were banned from competing due to such infractions, highlighting the issue for students hoping to showcase their skills to college recruiters.
However, some lawmakers, like Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, voiced concerns over the potential health and safety risks of allowing athletes to juggle multiple teams. She raised the possibility of coaches failing to communicate about athlete injuries or overlapping schedules, which could lead to unsafe situations. Stuart also warned that the new policy could cause friction between coaches and put students in difficult positions when schedules conflict.
Despite these concerns, the bill passed the Education Policy Committee with a 12-0 vote and will now move to the full House for further consideration.