Football districting system rescinded after IHSA member vote

Regular-season football scheduling and the Illinois High School Association state football playoffs will remain unchanged from their current format.

IHSA schools voted to keep things the same after voting for the districting system one year ago. The IHSA revealed the result of the latest vote on Tuesday, with 374 schools voting against the districting system and 274 in favor of districts. Participation was basically the same as last year, with 702 of 812 schools voting.

Under the districting system, conferences would have been eliminated and the IHSA would have determined playoff classes before the season to break each class into eight or nine-team districts based on enrollment and geography.

“There is incredible passion for high school football in our state, and the subject of football district scheduling has been no exception,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. “Many coaches and communities were excited about the prospect of district scheduling when the vote passed a year ago, just like many are excited today that it will ultimately not occur in 2021.

“We do not expect the discussion surrounding football regular-season scheduling and the playoff structure to dissipate, so we will be charged with continuing to facilitate discussion and ideas among our member school coaches and administrators.”

The majority of schools in Chicago seemed against the districting format.

“I think it is ridiculous, I really do,” Brother Rice coach Brian Badke said when districts were passed last year. “I don’t understand the reasoning. Is it just because of scheduling and people trying to get wins and all that?”