Mason Seeks to Establish Student Athletics Commission

GURNEE, Ill. – The statewide promotion and development of youth sports would be led by new voices under a measure introduced by state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee.

“While many of the COVID-19 restrictions that were placed on student athletics over the past year were necessary to combat the pandemic, the way some of those policies were rolled out and implemented left many people in and around youth sports feeling unheard,” Mason said. “To better represent the needs of student athletes, parents and coaches, we need to have a greater variety of sports experts at the table when it comes to making decisions about youth athletics in Illinois. That’s why I’ve introduced legislation to establish the Amateur Sports Commission, which would make sure we’re using input from an array of experienced leaders in student athletics to help us make more informed policy decisions about youth sports.”

Mason’s House Bill 3870 would create the Illinois Amateur Sports Commission Act. The Illinois Amateur Sports Commission would consist of experts in a variety of sports, former Olympians, representatives of high school and collegiate athletic associations, and members of the General Assembly. The commission would be tasked with researching and making recommendations to the governor and the legislature on the development, expansion and promotion of amateur sports across Illinois.

“Not only would this commission help us better address the concerns of student athletes, parents and coaches, but it would also allow us to generate new revenue through sports-related tourism by putting greater focus on the marketing and promotion of youth athletic events,” Mason said. “Athletics can be a fun, healthy recreational activity for young people or even a way for them to pursue a college education or career. Sports play a positive role in the lives of countless students, and we as a state need to make sure that we are supporting them in their athletic endeavors to the best of our ability.”