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Hillsboro High School
Hillsboro Community School District #3 fosters a student-centered culture with high expectations for each student to reach his or her full potential.

Play Smart Campaign

 
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Play Smart. Play Hard. Campaign: Prioritizing Student-Athlete Safety in Illinois High School Sports

At the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the safety of student-athletes is our highest priority. The Play Smart. Play Hard. initiative builds on IHSA's ongoing commitment to promoting the health and well-being of young athletes by offering critical education and resources. This program aims to help student-athletes, parents, coaches, and schools work together to protect athletes as they enjoy the sports we all love.

Launched in 2015, Play Smart. Play Hard. empowers all involved in high school sports to access reliable information and resources on player safety directly from IHSA via the dedicated website.

About the Campaign:

The Play Smart. Play Hard. campaign was designed to reduce injuries and enhance safety in high school athletics, particularly in sports like football. The initiative focuses on providing education, tools, and partnerships to help prevent head injuries, support safe practices, and build a stronger safety culture within Illinois high school sports.

Key Goals and Focus Areas:

  • Goal: To increase student-athlete safety by offering resources and education on injury prevention.

  • Target Audience: Student-athletes, parents, and coaches.

  • Key Focus Areas:

    • Reducing the risk of head injuries.

    • Developing a comprehensive player safety toolkit.

    • Strengthening partnerships with the medical community to ensure proper care and prevention.

Resources:

The Play Smart. Play Hard. campaign offers a wide range of materials, including safety toolkits and educational resources available on the Play Smart Play Hard  website, ensuring that key safety information is easily accessible for all participants.

Initiative Launch:

The campaign was officially launched in May 2015, in response to growing concerns about player safety in high school sports, especially in football, as highlighted by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the Chicago Sun-Times.

By providing critical tools and a trusted source of information, Play Smart. Play Hard. helps Illinois high school athletes stay safe while pursuing their athletic goals.