A brand new invoice in Springfield would search to overturn an IHSA determination to vary the women’ highschool flag soccer season, whereas including extra playoff groups in sort out soccer.
“The problem with this particular decision is that it was made by a very small group,” stated State Rep. Janet Yang Rohr, whose district consists of Naperville.
Yang Rohr is introducing a invoice in Springfield to overturn the IHSA’s determination to shorten the women’ highschool flag soccer common season by one week, as an alternative selecting so as to add extra break day between playoff video games which finish October 17.
“This is ultimately about transparency and accountability, and I hope everyone, especially someone with as much power with it as the IHSA, agrees that accountability and transparency are important,” Yang Rohr stated.
The bill, officially introduced Wednesday in the Illinois General Assembly, would require the IHSA to get state approval earlier than making changes that negatively affect women sports.
“It gives families, students, schools a 30-day period to make comments and the IHSA has to do that review, that gender equity review and submit it to the Illinois State Board of Education,” Yang Rohr stated.
The invoice is getting help from different state lawmakers together with State Rep. Kam Buckner and State Rep. Camille Lilly, who plan to be co-sponsors of the invoice.
“Girls flag soccer is among the fastest-growing sports in Illinois, and our younger ladies deserve extra alternatives, not fewer. HB 5799 ensures that when choices are made that would scale back alternatives for women, there’s transparency, public enter, and accountability. Student-athletes and their households deserve nothing much less,” Lilly stated.
The IHSA despatched NBC Chicago an announcement:
“The IHSA has communicated with members of the Illinois General Assembly concerning the slight modification to the IHSA flag soccer calendar that was accredited by means of our advisory committee and Board of Directors course of. At this juncture, we’ve got not had any direct communication with Representative Yang Rohr concerning her proposed laws.
“While the calendar adjustment doesn’t change the general size of the season, we welcome the chance to fulfill with Representative Yang Rohr and another legislators to raised perceive their considerations and supply further perception into the IHSA’s membership-driven governance and processes.
“We have little doubt that Representative Yang Rohr’s intentions are to help the continued development of ladies flag soccer in Illinois. However, significant dialogue ought to happen earlier than legislative motion is taken. Altering IHSA insurance policies by means of laws, reasonably than by means of the established processes involving member faculties, may create unintended penalties that jeopardize present flag soccer packages and make it tougher for further faculties to launch packages sooner or later.”
“The IHSA appreciates the opportunity to speak on this matter, but our objective is to have meaningful dialogue with interested lawmakers, rather than to litigate this matter in the media. We have worked with Representative Yang Rohr in the past and look forward to doing so again. Out of respect for everyone involved, we will have no further comment at this time.”
Yang Rohr disputes the concept sufficient communication came about, and stated she is going to work collaboratively with stakeholders to resolve any lingering points.
“I sure hope they’re not saying that as a threat to A.D.s and coaches, telling them not to launch programs because flag football has been the number one growing sport for girls in the United States,” she stated. “Go take a look at that bill and we always work collaboratively with all our stakeholders and so would love to hear their feedback.”