Illiniois Requiring Insurance for Student Athletes

The Illinois High School Association has approved a policy to make sure its members are complying with a new law requiring them to get catastrophic insurance coverage for student athletes.

The IHSA board of directors approved the policy during its meeting on Aug. 26 in Bloomington. The policy coincides with Gov. Pat Quinn signing a new law that requires Illinois high schools to have the insurance.

The law was inspired by the late Rasul “Rocky” Clark, who played football in the Chicago suburbs. He was paralyzed from the neck down when he was tackled in 2000. Portions of his care were paid for through a $5 million school district insurance policy.

The IHSA made its group plan insurance available to its member schools in mid-August. The IHSA insures athletes in postseason events.