Iowa House overwhelmingly approves allowing 8th graders to play high school sports
DES MOINES — On an 89-2 vote, the Iowa House has passed a bill that would allow eighth graders to play high school sports during the school year.
The bill was filed after a few school districts in the state did not have enough girls to field a girls basketball team this past season.
Eighth graders are currently allowed to play softball and baseball in the summer after their 8th grade year. The bill would allow eighth graders to play other sports in the fall, winter and spring seasons. Thirteen states currently allow eighth graders to compete in high school-level sports during the school year. Minnesota also allows 7th graders to play at the high school level.
The Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union have not commented on the bill. Groups representing rural school districts, urban schools, as well as Catholic schools have registered as undecided on the bill.
