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34. Policy and School Recommendations for Transgender Participation
The Illinois High School Association approves this policy and process to address the participation of transgender students in all IHSA state finals series in athletics and activities.
For the purpose of this policy the following definitions will be in place:
• Transgender: a person whose gender identity doesn’t match the sex assigned to him or her at birth.
• Intersex: a person who is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy and /or chromosome pattern that doesn’t seem to fit the typical
definitions of female or male.
• Gender Identity: a person’s deeply-felt internal sense of being male or female.
• Gender Expression: a person’s external characteristics and behaviors that are socially defined as either masculine or feminine (dress,
speech, mannerisms, social interactions, etc.)
Privacy Statement: All discussions and documents at all levels of the process either by a member school, appeals panel, and/or IHSA shall be kept confidential unless specifically requested by the student and family.
School Procedure:
1. The student and/or parents shall contact the school administrator or athletic director at their member school notifying them that the student has a different gender identity than listed on the student’s school registration card or birth certificate and that the student wishes to participate in athletics/activities in a manner consistent with their gender identity. The school shall collect the following for the participation ruling:
a. Gender identity used for school registration records
b. Medical documentation (hormonal treatments, sexual re-assignment surgery, counseling, medical personnel, etc.) c. Gender Identity related advantages for approved participation
2. Once the school administrator has collected the relevant information, the member school shall contact the IHSA office in writing of the request for the ruling, the student’s gender identity, and the selected athletics/activities that the student would like the opportunity to participate in if they are selected through the team try-out process.
a. Once the student is approved, participation is granted through the duration of the student’s high school career and does not
IHSA Procedure:
need to be annually renewed, unless the school or the student report that there has been a change in the original medical documentation submitted. At that time the school shall reach out to the IHSA in writing, citing the changes and requesting an updated ruling.
IHSA will make final rulings on student participation. The IHSA will establish a group of medical personnel to act in an advisory role when reviewing rulings. Appealing parties should provide the following documentation:
1. A current transcript and school registration information
2. Documentation of the student’s consistent gender identification (e.g. affirmation statements from student, parent/guardian,
and/or health care provider.
3. Any other pertinent documentation or information
The IHSA will respond to the member school in writing the decision of the participation ruling.
Areas of Awareness:
• Have a plan in place
• Use correct names/pronouns- according to student’s self-identification
• Gender appropriate restroom accessibility
• Locker room accessibility
• Educational training for teachers, counselors, coaches, administrator and students on transgender sensitivity in relation to
student
• Manner of dress according to gender identity • Access to resources and accurate information
35. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (Drone) Policy
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (“UAV”) also known as drones, is prohibited for any purpose by any persons at IHSA tournament venues. Tournament management shall refuse admission or entry to anyone attempting to use a UAV; and if necessary, tournament management shall remove anyone attempting to use a UAV and/or confiscate the UAV until the event has been completed.
For purposes of this policy, a UAV is any aircraft without a human pilot aboard the device.
An exception to this policy may be made in specific cases for IHSA broadcast partners, provided the management of the tournament facility permits the presence of UAVs for broadcast purposes under the control of the IHSA.
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