Section 2910.5  Definitions

For the purposes of 56 Ill. Adm. Code 2910.1, the following terms shall have the meaning given hereunder:

a)         "Sports" or "athletics" is an activity involving an individual or group of individuals who participate in any competitive play, game, or contest that requires either physical or mental ability, or both.

b)         "Participate" shall mean taking part in sports or athletic events as an individual competitor or as a member of a team, or as a participant in the training or preparing to so participate.

c)         "Sports season" is that part of the calendar year when according to the established practice or tradition of a particular sport or game, the team players or individual competitors are actively involved in participating in sports or athletic events or in training or preparing to so participate.

d)         "Professional athlete"

1)         "Professional athlete" is a claimant whose occupation is participating in athletic or sporting events as:

A)        A regular player or team player; or

B)        An alternate player or team member; or

C)        An individual in training to become a regular player or team member; or

D)        An individual who, although performing no active services, is retained as a player or team member while recuperating from illness or injury.

2)         A semiprofessional athlete is within the scope of the term "professional athlete" if he is paid for participating in sports or athletic events.

e)         "Ancillary personnel" is a claimant who, without being a professional athlete, participates, or trains or prepares to so participate in sporting or athletic events.  It includes:

1)         Coaches;

2)         Trainers;

3)         Referees.