Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
An amendment to an IHSA by-law that was approved by membership vote back in December and went into effect July 1 is now generating large amounts of confusion, frustration, and anger.
The new modification deals with By-law 3.120 All-Star Participation. Prior to the amendment, players in basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball could only participate in All-Star games once their eligibility for that particular sport was over. This amendment has changed that to read “any sport,” not just the previous four.
Where things seem to have gone sideways in recent days is the recognition that an independent team could be deemed an all-star team. According to the by-law explanation, that would happen “if an independent team is formed to play one game or one tournament.” Many thought the amendment meant playing on travel teams was not allowed, but that is not the case. If the independent team “engages in a regular schedule of competition, it is a permissible non-school program, and high school students may participate.”
Listed in the by-law, there are six questions that will be used to determine if an event is an All-Star contest: 1) Are participants selected by an individual or group according to a structural system relating to athletic ability, performance, or reputation? 2) Does publicity for the event state or imply an honorary status for participants? 3) Are the contests, by name or otherwise, identified as all-star? 4) Does any revenue generated through ticket sales or other means accrue to or are expenses paid by sponsoring agency or organizations? 5) Is the contest sponsored by a non-school agency? 6) Is the contest sponsored by a school agency?
The issue came to the forefront recently due to several high profile, invitation only baseball and softball events. The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association received some clarification from the IHSA that the events would not violate the rule as long as the score is not kept, and it was treated more like a scrimmage.
This change in the by-law is only for All-Star team selection. It does not limit opportunities for underclassmen to compete in individual sport competitions where a qualifying time, distance, or height is required to participate.
So how did we get here?
First of all, it’s important to note this is an amendment to the IHSA’s by-laws, not an IHSA policy. The difference being by-laws and changes to by-laws are presented to and voted on by the member schools, while policy is set by the IHSA board.
This particular amendment was one of two submitted by Chicago Noble/Butler principal Brian Riddick. One proposal (Proposal 9) modified the current by-law to include all sports as opposed to just basketball, football, soccer and volleyball. The other (Proposal 10) called for the elimination of all-star participation restrictions. The rationale provided was the “IHSA believes equality and fairness must always be safeguarded. It is our belief having a by-law that does not place all students on an equal field should be removed or adjusted because that in itself goes against equality and fairness of all students that play IHSA sports. Butler supports the IHSA when it states – each member school is equal and equally important to the association’s existence, we hope our proposal to by-law 3.120 will be given full consideration.” You can read the full text of the proposals here.
When a proposal is made, it goes to the IHSA Legislative Commission. This is a group of 35 principals, official representatives, athletic directors, and activity directors. These individuals review the proposals then take them to 28 regional town meetings in early November. Principals (or a designee) from each school are required to attend one of these meetings. The Legislative Commission gathers feedback, then reconvenes to decide which proposals will go on the ballot.
There were 23 proposals submitted with the Legislative Commission voting to send 14 to the ballot for the schools. That group included Proposal 9 to modify the current by-law to include all sports in the All-Star participation restrictions.
In December, 727 of the 815 IHSA member schools (89.2%) voted on the 14 items presented. By a vote of 547-136 with 43 no opinions, the change to the All-Star participation by-law (Proposal 9) was approved. It was one of the 12 by-law amendments to be approved. At the time of the vote, a great deal of attention was paid to one of the two amendments that failed, the one that would’ve changed football structure to districts.
So what now?
That’s a big TBD–to be determined. In the IHSA Constitution, By-laws, and Policy, it states that penalties for any violation(s) are determined solely by IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. Those penalties could be anywhere from written warnings or reprimands up to suspension and/or expulsion. There is an appeals process.
As far as local events, organizers for the SIBCA All-Star Baseball game as well as the SI Select All-Star Softball game knew the games played in June would be the final ones to include underclass players. Organizers for the Colt World Series say they will make sure their Illinois teams are compliant to the rule change.
Of course, that’s if this rule is still in place as constructed next summer. School officials we talked to say with the large amount of negative feedback to this new part of the by-law, they expect the subject to be revisited in the 2024 legislative process.
