Originally set up in 1900 as an organization to simply oversee inter-scholastic competition in Illinois, the beleaguered IHSA continues to get pounded by issues that were never foreseen at its inception.
Besides the on-going pressure of the public-private school competitive imbalance, officials at the IHSA are now juggling how to handle transgender issues and something called “right to play”.
In regard to whether transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in gender specific activities, the IHSA simply wants clarification. Do their marching orders come from a Presidential Executive Order or the Illinois Department of Human Rights?
A non-political entity, the IHSA stays out of the fray and simply tries to comply with the applicable law, without taking a position either way. Still, there remains a very large contingent of Illinois citizens that believe the IHSA should not allow transgender athletes to compete in girls sports, citing unfairness.
For the record, the IHSA doesn’t legislate how school districts handle this matter in everyday athletic competition. Its jurisdiction is for a state tournament series, of which there are 15 for the boys and 17 for the girls.
As a pole vault person, I’ve watched with some interest a political hot potato in the state of Maine, whereby a teenager who previously competed in the boys track and field, switched to girls and won the state pole vault title as a trans athlete. The controversy has reached a boiling point among state and national politicos.
It might just a matter of time before this explodes in Illinois, as the IHSA patiently waits for definitive direction from federal and/or state authorities.
On to the “Right to Play” House Bill, which is much simpler to explain, but still chockfull of social ramifications.
It asks that athletes be given the opportunity to compete in tournament play outside of the actual high-school sport they are playing in.
Right now, if someone is a club ball player and his or her club is having a competition while that sport is going on during the high-school season, the IHSA doesn’t allow them to compete in it.
This bill would allow kids to step outside the IHSA rules and play whatever tournament they want during the season in question. Bear in mind, kids can compete in club sports throughout the school year, just not during the season that sport is going on.
The IHSA opposes the bill, stating its mission centers around the character development of young people while representing their schools and communities. They contend that travel (club) sports have a very different end goal.
IHSA’s mission is to support its 800 member schools, and not have any affiliation with club ball.
Additionally, the IHSA warns against the effect it would have on fielding teams, which is already a huge problem for schools all over Illinois. It also cites the undue pressure it puts on high school coaches.
Very true and something that is frustrating to coaches everywhere. Often, kids do not report for practice or games because they are practicing with their travel (club) team. With a shortage of players to fill a high-school team out, coaches are left with an ethical dilemma.
Do you make a concession to kids that have a greater allegiance to their club team than to their high school simply because you don’t have enough bodies and desperately need all hands on deck?
It’s gets stickier when the club sport athlete is more talented than his peers in high school. Does the coach allow the absentee athlete to receive more playing time than the lesser-talented kid who makes every practice and is truly committed to the team?
I guess it depends if winning is the primary goal?
One final factor not connected to the proposed House Bill is the conflict high-school coaches feel with club sports. They are forced to navigate their own coaching techniques versus what a travel coach is telling an athlete.
It is so much easier to coach your own way without outside interference. However, some would argue that a kids receive more specialized training from an outside coaching, and dare we say, even better.
I’m staying out of that argument, but it is a reality permeating coaching high-school sports all over the country.
Andy Colbert is a longtime Ogle County resident with years of experience covering sports and more for multiple area publications.
