Illinois high schools eliminating football conferences

[mr.MUskie]

In a landmark decision, Illinois High School Association member schools Tuesday approved Proposal 23, which will abolish football conferences statewide beginning with the 2021 season, in favor of a new districting format.

Proposal 23 directs the IHSA to implement a football scheduling system for regular-season varsity games that would involve the following:

•A 9-week regular season;

•Playoff classes will be determined in advance of the season;

•Schools from each class will be placed into eight geographic groups by the IHSA office to play a round-robin schedule

•The remaining games on the regular season schedule will be arranged by the individual schools at their discretion;

•The top 4 teams in each of the eight groups qualify for the playoffs, based on games played within each group.

The proposal passed 324-307 with 69 no opinion votes.

[Herman Cain]

In a landmark decision, Illinois High School Association member schools Tuesday approved Proposal 23, which will abolish football conferences statewide beginning with the 2021 season, in favor of a new districting format.

Proposal 23 directs the IHSA to implement a football scheduling system for regular-season varsity games that would involve the following:

•A 9-week regular season;

•Playoff classes will be determined in advance of the season;

•Schools from each class will be placed into eight geographic groups by the IHSA office to play a round-robin schedule

•The remaining games on the regular season schedule will be arranged by the individual schools at their discretion;

•The top 4 teams in each of the eight groups qualify for the playoffs, based on games played within each group.

The proposal passed 324-307 with 69 no opinion votes.

I guess this is because some schools are having a hard time fielding teams. 

[🏀]

What will determine the classes beyond enrollment? Are we still using the private school multiplier?

Otherwise it makes total sense, play the closest teams most similar in size


Downfall, no more conference champions, all-conference teams, records, etc. However, conference realignment in Illinois has been crazy for the last 10 years.

[Dish]

IHSA realignment has made the college realignment of recent years look like a picnic in comparison.

[TinyTimsLittleBrother]

Wisconsin looked at a similar proposal a few years ago. It was rejected.

[SaveOD238]

Otherwise it makes total sense, play the closest teams most similar in size

This.  I always thought it was strange that my alma mater (Warren Township/ Gurnee) played in a conference that had other massive schools, like Stevenson and Zion-Benton, but also had midsize schools like Grant and Mundelein.  In football, those smaller schools just couldn't compete.  At the same time, we were sandwiched between Waukegan and Grayslake, who weren't in our conference despite being similar in size.

[Cheeks]

Here in Calif we still have conferences, but they only mean so much.  Playoffs are all about ratings and the division you are in which is based on past performance.  Enrollment nomatta. 

We had a situation in recently where three teams in our conference all competed for their division state championship because they were each classified in a different division. Despite being in the same conference.  It is strange, but the idea is to try and equalize the schools a bit and not penalize bad athletic programs that are big enrollment or reward small schools that are recruiting and powerhouses athletically.

[SaveOD238]

Here in Calif we still have conferences, but they only mean so much.  Playoffs are all about ratings and the division you are in which is based on past performance.  Enrollment nomatta. 

We had a situation in recently where three teams in our conference all competed for their division state championship because they were each classified in a different division. Despite being in the same conference.  It is strange, but the idea is to try and equalize the schools a bit and not penalize bad athletic programs that are big enrollment or reward small schools that are recruiting and powerhouses athletically.

That happens around here too.  My current employer Racine St Cats and Racine Lutheran both made it to the state title game this year, but in different divisions (4 and 6, respectively).  They play in the same conference.

I'm proud of my students so I'll give them a shout-out for bringing home a state championship trophy!  Go Angels! (Lutheran was not so lucky)

[Galway Eagle]

A bit confusing. So does that include breaking up the CPS league? Because that'll really change the landscape of high school basketball in IL.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

A bit confusing. So does that include breaking up the CPS league? Because that'll really change the landscape of high school basketball in IL.

Just a football only decision. The IHSA knows where they're bread and butter is, they know basketball is off limits.

[Galway Eagle]

Just a football only decision. The IHSA knows where they're bread and butter is, they know basketball is off limits.

Gotcha, makes more sense then. I'm curious who my old HS is gonna end up playing, Elmwoods Park, Morton, and Steinmetz are who boarder us but that's quite a step down from playing LT, Hinsdale central etc

[SaveOD238]

Gotcha, makes more sense then. I'm curious who my old HS is gonna end up playing, Elmwoods Park, Morton, and Steinmetz are who boarder us but that's quite a step down from playing LT, Hinsdale central etc

It looks like you'll be playing same-size schools that are relatively close.  I have a feeling this could increase drive times, especially in rural areas of the state.

[LloydsLegs]

Gotcha, makes more sense then. I'm curious who my old HS is gonna end up playing, Elmwoods Park, Morton, and Steinmetz are who boarder us but that's quite a step down from playing LT, Hinsdale central etc

Fenwick, the Proviso's, R-B? 

Will the Catholic schools be "upped" a division or two because they don't have borders and therefore can recruit?

[barfolomew]

Fenwick, the Proviso's, R-B? 

Will the Catholic schools be "upped" a division or two because they don't have borders and therefore can recruit?

We'll see under this new scenario.
However, last year, Immaculate Conception got bumped up from 3A to 4A after their 2nd straight state title, and now will be bumped up to 5A next year after winning a third.

[Pakuni]

On a related note, the Hinsdale school district just voted to cut its football program, along with  wrestling, swimming, water polo and marching band, after voters rejected a referendum in November.
I'lll be shocked when the referendum goes back on the ballot in April and wins approval, saving the programs.

[Benny B]

On a related note, the Hinsdale school district just voted to cut its football program, along with  wrestling, swimming, water polo and marching band, after voters rejected a referendum in November.
I'lll be shocked when the referendum goes back on the ballot in April and wins approval, saving the programs.

Yep.. we discussed this topic over lunch yesterday as well and came to the exact same prognostication.


BTW - In addition to the 69 "no opinion" votes, there were upwards of 200 schools who didn't bother casting a ballot at all.

This.  I always thought it was strange that my alma mater (Warren Township/ Gurnee) played in a conference that had other massive schools, like Stevenson and Zion-Benton, but also had midsize schools like Grant and Mundelein.  In football, those smaller schools just couldn't compete.  At the same time, we were sandwiched between Waukegan and Grayslake, who weren't in our conference despite being similar in size.

Grayslake has two high schools, both of which have enrollments under 1,400.  Warren's enrollment is over 4,000.

Go Carmel.

[Galway Eagle]

Fenwick, the Proviso's, R-B? 

Will the Catholic schools be "upped" a division or two because they don't have borders and therefore can recruit?

forgot about R-B I could see that. It would be nice to have the Fenwick-OPRF football game hope that works out.

[Coleman]

What will determine the classes beyond enrollment? Are we still using the private school multiplier?

Otherwise it makes total sense, play the closest teams most similar in size


Downfall, no more conference champions, all-conference teams, records, etc. However, conference realignment in Illinois has been crazy for the last 10 years.

Eh, now you have district champions, all-district teams, etc. It really doesn't change that much.

I think it makes sense, especially in the Chicago area. I do wonder though how it will play out in more rural areas of the state. Conferences make sense there because otherwise you may be driving 2 hours to play a school in the same class. I could see this being even more of an issue in Wisconsin.

When I was in high school (Wisconsin), we were by far the smallest team in our conference. Some schools were 2 or 3 times our size. But if we only played teams our size, we would have had to travel a ton.

[LAZER]

Just a football only decision. The IHSA knows where they're bread and butter is, they know basketball is off limits.

What makes basketball off limits?

[Coleman]

A bit confusing. So does that include breaking up the CPS league? Because that'll really change the landscape of high school basketball in IL.

This is for football