SR0207 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0207 LRB103 31356 LAW 58931 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) has officially supported boys and girls gymnastics for 70 and 50 years respectively; and

WHEREAS, Illinois gymnastics programs and gymnasts have enjoyed working cooperatively with the IHSA in order to provide a meaningful and healthy alternative to more traditional sports, following IHSA's core principle that each and every student is important; and

WHEREAS, Local school districts, parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes are supportive of gymnastics in Illinois and have not initiated any effort with the IHSA to remove it as an official sport in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Gymnastics is a foundational sport, providing an opportunity for its athletes to gain coordination, self-control, strength training, perseverance, self-esteem, and confidence; the sport additionally teaches goal setting and performing both as an individual and as a team; and

WHEREAS, Like any other high school sport, gymnastics permits athletes the chance to compete while representing their schools, giving them a sense of pride and purpose outside of academics; and

WHEREAS, Competing in gymnastics during high school additionally allows athletes further time to develop as gymnasts, which leads to higher rates of success should they pursue gymnastics in college or beyond, and is considered vital in order to join and compete for Team USA Gymnastics; and

WHEREAS, While female gymnasts often reach the pinnacle of their abilities in gymnastics while still in school, successful male gymnasts require extreme upper body strength that does not develop until they are older, thereby making it especially important that they have the continued option to pursue gymnastics as a high school sport; and

WHEREAS, Illinois high school gymnastics programs have yielded Olympic Gold Medal winners, NCAA National Championships, and a diversity of citizens who continue to contribute to the well-being of our State; and

WHEREAS, Official support of gymnastics by the IHSA does not prevent a school from discontinuing or adding the sport to its student athlete programs, but eliminating it as an official IHSA sport would have a negative impact on students and coaches; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Illinois High School Association and Illinois student gymnasts, coaches, and parents on the achievements of boys and girls gymnastics for the past 70 and 50 years respectively; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we congratulate the IHSA for its continued official support of boys and girls gymnastics in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the IHSA as a symbol of our respect and esteem.