Major changes could be coming to Illinois high school athletics, with the IHSA considering several proposals that could reshape the postseason and how schools compete for state championships.
The IHSA is reviewing 24 newly submitted bylaw proposals, with several focused on competitive balance between boundary and non-boundary schools. Monmouth-Roseville High School Principal Eric Matthews, who was recently elected to the IHSA Board of Directors representing Division 6, says the latest proposals could bring some significant changes.
“There’s some very, very interesting ones, and I think it’s pretty safe to say that the landscape of athletics is getting ready to change. You’ve got boundaries and non-boundaries, so you got your public and your private, and that is the hot topic of the proposals.”
One proposal would separate boundary and non-boundary schools into their own classifications for state tournaments. In four-class sports, there would be three classes for boundary schools and one for non-boundary schools, while football would have six boundary classes and two non-boundary classes.
Another proposal would keep both groups competing for the same state championships, but give them separate paths through the postseason, allowing only one non-boundary school to advance to the semifinals in each class.
A separate proposal, already set for a vote, would increase the enrollment multiplier for non-boundary schools from 1.65 to 2.5, potentially moving some schools into higher classifications.
Other proposed changes include returning the football playoffs to a 256-team field after expanding to 384 this season, reducing the number of regular-season games in several sports, and adding a mandatory seven-day break before the start of fall practices.
The proposals will be discussed at IHSA town hall meetings throughout November, including a meeting at Macomb High School. The IHSA Legislative Commission will then decide November 23rd which proposals advance to a vote, with member schools scheduled to vote December 1st through the 15th.
For the full interview with Matthews listen here.
