The IHSA has passed a by-law allowing student-athletes to participate in certain non-IHSA-sanctioned events during their sport season.

IHSA By-Law 3.101 permits a student-athlete to participate on a non-school team or in non-school competition in the same sport (or any skill of that sport) while they are a member of a school team, up to two (2) times during the season.

During the school term, special permission may be granted for a third (3rd) non-school competition, provided the event is directly sanctioned by the National Governing Body (NGB) for the sport or its official Illinois affiliate. No student may participate in more than three (3) approved non-school competitions during a single sports season.

Important Note:
The first step in this process should be a conversation between the athlete and the head coach of the program. While the athletic department understands the value of outside competition, we do have concerns regarding recovery time, the risk of injury, and any potential negative impact on the athlete’s performance and availability for their high school team. Open communication with the head coach is essential to ensure decisions are made in the best interest of the athlete and the program. Choosing to miss a high school practice or game is not excused and could result in a loss of playing time.

Please note the following requirements:

• The following form must be completed and submitted to your high school athletic director no later than seventeen (17) days prior to the date of any non-school competition.  The athletic director will then submit the necessary paperwork to the IHSA for review.
• A third competition request must include written verification from the sport’s National Governing Body or its official Illinois affiliate confirming that the event is directly sanctioned.
• The IHSA requires a minimum ten (10) day window to approve or deny participation in a non-school competition.

If an athlete plans to participate in one of these events, formal communication from the athlete to the Athletic Director and Athletics Administrative Assistant is required no fewer than seventeen (17) days prior to the event. This timeline is necessary to allow adequate time for review and for the athletic department to submit the required request through the IHSA website. Requests submitted outside of this window may not be approved due to IHSA processing requirements.

This form is provided to request approval for participation in a non-school competition while on a school team in the sport in question.

IHSA By-law 3.101 permits a student to participate on a non-school team or in non-school competition in the sport, or any skill of the sport, at the time the student is a member of a school team in that same sport, two (2) times during the season. During the school term, special permission may be granted to permit a student to compete in a third (3rd) non-school event during the school season in competitions that are directly sanctioned by the National Governing Body for the sport or its official Illinois affiliate. No student may participate in more than three (3) approved non-school competitions during a sports season.

Please fill out the information below and return it to your athletic director at least 17 days prior to the event. The Athletic Department will submit the information to the IHSA.

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First name of athlete:

Last name of athlete:

Sport:

Number of non-IHSA Events you have already done this year?  1, 2, 3

Is this event sanctioned by the National Governing Body of the sport? Yes / No  

Competition Website Address:

Dates of competition:

Name of event:

Location of the event: