17-04-2025
'Right to Play' bill advances in Illinois General Assembly
HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – Illinois lawmakers are moving forward with a bill that could allow high school athletes to compete in events outside their school.
Currently, the Illinois High School Association can suspend student athletes if they play the same sport in and out of school.
The 'Right to Play Act' would let high schools grant students two waivers a year for tournaments and other events.
The IHSA has their own waver for competitions, but they don't cover all events.
'Our athletes right now in Illinois have to decline invitations from FIFA, from the Olympic development program, from offers to play with national teams in Canada, in Scotland, because these IHSA rules compel the organization to deny their waiver requests,' says Rep. Janet Yang-Rohr, Naperville.
The bill passed out of the House and heads to the Senate.
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