Think this was covered all ready, but article states they'll get feedback at November Town Halls. As a board change it wouldn't be subject to a members vote.
IHSA to Continue Non-Boundaried Semi-Final Limit Push
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Think this was covered all ready, but article states they'll get feedback at November Town Halls. As a board change it wouldn't be subject to a members vote.
The IHSA board has the power to implement this rather than it needing to pass via a vote.
Anyone know what determines when a change needs to be voted on by member schools VS what the IHSA board can simply change themselves?
Anyone know what determines when a change needs to be voted on by member schools VS what the IHSA board can simply change themselves?
This is dumb. Might be the minority take... but this seems silly. Either separate them entirely, or let it be. It's not often enough that NB's are playing for titles against each other in the current format(s) we've had since 2001. Sometimes, the best 4 teams in a class might be NB's... sorry folks.
There's more sports than just football. This rule would take effect across the board.
Quite possibly the dumbest proposal yet. Any measure that attempts to predetermine participants is dumb.
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There is no true state champ now. Some schools shoot up and down the classes like they're playing candy land. Until you put the best 16 or 32 in a bracket regardless of enrollment, there will never be a true state champ.
Maybe back in the day when most athletes at a school played football, but those days are long gone. I don't agree with it but it's today's reality. A lot of 3A - 6A publics really struggle to get rosters of 40 kids.
I like to use the question: "if the football program at said school shut down, how many of those kids would stay at said school?". That will give you much better indicator of talent depth than enrollment IMO.
Enrollment does not equal depth. Farmington, a 2A school had over 100 kids just a few years ago, does that mean they should be playing some of the 6A/7A that struggle to field teams? To be honest, basing class on participation is a good way for programs to cut kids to get in a lower class.
Add in a population density component into the multiplier formula and problem solved because that is the real issue. Small school drawing from 100,000s of people playing schools in towns with a few 1,000 people.
Add in a population density component into the multiplier formula and problem solved because that is the real issue. Small school drawing from 100,000s of people playing schools in towns with a few 1,000 people.
Here is real world example in high density IHSA area.
5A Glenbard South Public
3A IC 7.94 miles Private
4A Montini 3.91 miles Private
5A St Francis 4.01 Miles Private
These are 3 closest private schools to GBS. If they switched rosters today name which one would do better in playoffs because of depth quality GBS would bring because of its enrollment size compared these small privates. IC entire enrollment is 350, so by your logic they would roll through 3A if they switched rosters?
Would love to hear how and why of the 3 programs listed would be better off because of enrollment is bigger at GBS.
This has the classic “doing something to say we’re doing something” feel to it. Seems like a tremendously bad idea that will solve nothing and leave nobody satisfied. Really makes you question the thought process of individuals on the committee if they threw around ideas and this came out as the most meaningful, tangible recommendation.
would non boundaried CPS schools be put into the separate path as well?
if we’re going to do quasi separation why not go with 5 public classes and 3 non boundaried classes. After the title games, play 5a public vs big private champ. 4a public vs medium private champ. 3a public vs small private champ. And then 2a public vs 1a public for the small public championship. It’ll never happen bc it would be football specific but that seems like a less bad idea than the separate semifinal paths idea.
would non boundaried CPS schools be put into the separate path as well?
if we’re going to do quasi separation why not go with 5 public classes and 3 non boundaried classes. After the title games, play 5a public vs big private champ. 4a public vs medium private champ. 3a public vs small private champ. And then 2a public vs 1a public for the small public championship. It’ll never happen bc it would be football specific but that seems like a less bad idea than the separate semifinal paths idea.
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I think that we add an additional week of playoffs and allow everyone in
to me… that solves everything
nothing screens playoff football like 1 win teams in the playoffs
To be honest…. The serious schools need to bring back the prestige of the prep bowl and allow the state to implode upon itself
to me… that solves everything
nothing screens playoff football like 1 win teams in the playoffs
To be honest…. The serious schools need to bring back the prestige of the prep bowl and allow the state to implode upon itself
I'm with ya but its a last chance to keep public/private schools competing together in the playoffs... But we all know that a separation of public/private schools is coming!~
...and to think, this is a conversation amidst the "participation trophy" playoffs. Who's really asking to be handed more trophies here? Don't answer... its always been the poor poor tax payer funded Public schools.
Yeah, if only the most successful program in the state since 2010 wasn't a public school in a town of 3,000 people. Proving it can be done. So what's the excuse then from the rest the public lot?
Will the uneven representation of the non-boundaried schools by class be considered?
I think the 1a field last season had only one non-boundaried school. Would they advance straight to the semis?
And @Roamin' Catholic, the secret sauce is all the players that have come from Buckhart.
I think the 1a field last season had only one non-boundaried school. Would they advance straight to the semis?
And @Roamin' Catholic, the secret sauce is all the players that have come from Buckhart.
Do you know what ruins sports… over regulation
Illinois football as we know it is about to turn into a dumpster fire
Illinois football as we know it is about to turn into a dumpster fire
I assume in basketball where the public schools dominate that they will make a rule only one public school can reach the semi finals right?
I think only 1 made it in 4A last year. York of all schools. It should be a New Brook Order this season though.
Which town are you speaking of? Lena? Rochester? Byron? Maroa? All have been pretty successful since 2010 and have populations around 3,000. There are plenty of small towns that generate quality programs and have for many years and it usually comes down to the HC and the support those communities give those programs.
Why can't QND in a town of 38,000 and a 30 mile radius compete at the same level as IC or Montini? Both are just a few thousand more people than Quincy?
You think the 30 mile radius of Montini and IC is "just a few thousand more people" than that of Quincy's?!
Rather than “non boundary” can we please refer to them as radius impacted…
the term being used is offensive to me
the term being used is offensive to me
if anything is going to be changed (in football especially), FIX THE SEEDING PROCESS!
Agreed - Fix the seeding process and throw in a "neutral site" disclaimer to assuage the "its too far away" whiners -- especially since being the higher seed only occassionally gets you homefield advantage.
This really concerns me. The IHSA can make this change without a vote.
Does anyone know the answer to my original question?
I don't know it but this is what Google says
IHSA Board Changes (Board Policy)
- What it is: Actions, administrative adjustments, or tournament policy modifications decided directly by the IHSA Board of Directors. [1]
- Voting requirement: No vote by member schools is required. Board policies fall under the governance authority of the board itself. [1, 2]
- Recent example: The October 2026 proposal by the Competitive Balance Committee to place non-boundaried (private) schools into a separate bracket quadrant for team sports starting in 2027–28 is a board policy change, meaning it can be enacted by the board after gathering feedback at town halls without a school-wide referendum. [1, 2]
- Board structure changes: The board itself was also recently expanded by four seats reserved for superintendents/heads of school through a prior member vote, leading to fresh board elections in October 2026. [1]
IHSA Voting Changes (By-Law Amendments & Referendums)
- What it is: Formal proposals to change the IHSA constitution or by-laws (such as playoff expansions, eligibility rules, or season timelines). [1, 2, 3]
- Voting requirement: Requires a direct all-school ballot and a majority vote from IHSA member high schools. Over 90% of member schools typically participate in these annual legislative referendums. [1, 2]
- Recent example: In December 2025, member schools voted to approve 12 by-law amendments, which included expanding the state football playoffs from 32 to 48 teams per class (moving from 256 total qualifiers to 384) and altering start dates. [1]
I think the last I saw was that it provide a path for one non boundary school to reach the Super sectionals.
And that is exactly my point. Population density needs to be considered when applying the multiplier to private schools.
A good point Roamin but Rochester is situated in the ideal location where as 90% of public schools are not located next to a pop hub of 140K+! Thats the difference!
Gate money for home teams shouldn't be lost due to travel... The state will not pay for neutral site games while giving the gate money to the "home" team! Texas does the neutral site games... It works...
so what's the excuse for the rest of their conference? Every public school near Rockford? Peoria?
3 of the 4 state titlists from last year were private schools. And Dyett, which is a CPS school and won 2A, has open enrollment.
In 2026 only 1 Private School won a hoops title. Marist, ESL, Peoria Manual, and Marshall were the Champs.
Also if you look back on last 10 seasons that there was a state championships, the bigger classes of 4A and 3A there have been 20 Champs, and only 5 from Private Schools total. Overall the publics have dominated over the years which is the point.
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