The Rhode Island Interscholastic League

Interscholastic Athletics
"An Extension of the Classroom"

The RIIL

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League is a voluntary organization of principals who pledge their high schools and participants to follow the Rules and Regulations of the League.  There are fifty-four (54) public, private, and parochial high schools who make up the membership.  These schools sponsor athletic activities in twenty-four (24) sports.  Over twenty-thousand (20,000) young men and women compete annually in thousands of competitions among Rhode Island Interscholastic League member schools.   The purpose of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League is to supervise and administer the athletic programs, contests, and schedules and matters related thereto in participating schools of the State of Rhode Island.

Mission

The Mission of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League is to provide educational opportunities for students through interscholastic athletics and to provide governance and leadership for its member schools in the implementation of athletic programs.

To achieve this mission, the league adheres to these governing values:

  • equity, fairness, and justice
  • activities that supports the academic mission of the schools
  • fair play and honorable competition
  • activities that support healthy lifestyles
  • treating people with dignity and respect
  • good sportsmanship and ethical conduct
  • sports should be fun
Fiscal Structure

The RIIL , established in 1932, is a voluntary, private, incorporated, non-profit association.  The League does not receive any state appropriations.  Membership dues and fees, tournament and championship gate receipts, as well as corporate sponsorship make up the major revenue base of the RIIL.

Governance

The legislative body of the League is the Committee on Athletics, which consists of principals and  assistant principals of the fifty-four (54) member high schools.   This committee meets on a monthly basis.  All meetings are open to the public and anyone that wishes may attend.

Standing Committees are appointed by the Chairperson of the Committee on Athletics with the approval of the Committee on Athletics.  Standing Committees are established for each sport.  Others are established to address issues of general concern to the RIIL Membership and to plan programs and activities for the members.  Membership on standing committees is open to superintendents, school administrators, athletic directors, AGWS members, coaches, game officials, physicians, and athletic trainers.   Recommendations are made by these committees to help the Committee on Athletics set rules and regulations and to provide programs for its schools.

Benefits To Students

Academic

Athletic competition is a major component in the education of the majority of students attending the fifty-four (54) RIIL member schools.  Research indicates that student-athletes have better grades than non-athletes and that student-athletes have higher attendance rates and higher graduation rates than non-participants.

Character

Within high school sports programs, young people learn the values of:

discipline
teamwork
sacrifice
respect
loyalty
time management
accountability
citizenship
organizational skills
sportsmanship
confidence
leadership
commitment
effort
work ethic

and enjoy team activities which will benefit their future.  Ethical conduct, integrity, playing within the spirit of the rules, and good sportsmanship are important components of the high school athletic program.

Sportsmanship

Good sportsmanship, ethical behavior, integrity, respect for others, and having fun are the guiding principles that permeate all interscholastic activities in the RIIL.   Each individual, regardless of their role, is expected to model sportsmanship because of the influence on the behavior of others.

"Good Sports Are Winners"

Citizenship

Citizenship.  It is what we stand for.  It is what we can and must deliver on behalf of this system called secondary school education.  Sports and activities provide not only the opportunity to teach and learn respect for self and respect for others, they also place participants in a unique context - competition - that can further instill and hone values necessary for the development of respect for self and respect for others.

RIIL Sports

The following are the sports of the RIIL:

Boys Baseball Boys & Girls Basketball Boys & Girls Cross Country
Girls Field Hockey Boys Football Boys Golf
Girls Gymnastics Boys & Girls Ice Hockey Boys & Girls Soccer
Fastpitch Softball Slowpitch Softball Boys & Girls Swimming
Boys & Girls Tennis Boys & Girls Indoor Track Boys & Girls Outdoor Track
Boys & Girls Volleyball

Boys & Girls Lacrosse

Boys Wrestling

The Rhode Island Interscholastic League does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, national origin, color, or handicap in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

To Contact The RIIL Via Email: info@riil.org

Send mail to webmaster@riil.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1999-2009 Rhode Island Interscholastic League and Scholastic Tools, LLC

Information contained on this website belongs to the Rhode Island Interscholastic League
for the benefit of its member schools.  It may not be reproduced, copied, or distributed by non-members,
in part or in full, without the written permission of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.

All Rights Reserved Worldwide. 
Privacy Policy