Announcements

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting at the IHSA office in Bloomington on Monday, September 11, 2023, where the Board approved two actions items.


ACTION ITEMS
1. The Board approved a recommendation to finalize the time schedule for the IHSA Boys & Girls Soccer State Final schedule in 2023-24. Additionally, the digital ticket price for the State Championship Session (Session 5) will be increased to $12 per ticket ($13 cash) to account for the third match being added to the session. The IHSA previously held the Class 1A State Finals on one weekend and the Class 2A and Class 3A State Finals one weekend later. In 2023-24, the tournaments will be played at the same site on the same weekend. The State Final schedule can be viewed below:

2023 IHSA BOYS SOCCER STATE FINAL TIME SCHEDULE
Thursday - Session 1
1A Semifinal #1 - 5:30 pm
1A Semifinal #2 - 7:00 pm

Friday - Session 2
1A Third-Place – Noon
2A Semifinal #1 - 1:30 PM
2A Semifinal #2 - 3:00 PM

Friday - Session 3
3A Semifinal #1 - 6:00 PM
3A Semifinal #2 - 7:30 PM

Saturday – Session 4
2A Third-Place – 9:00 AM
3A Third-Place – 10:15 AM

Saturday – Session 5
1A State Championship - 3:00 PM
2A State Championship - 5:00 PM
3A State Championship - 7:00 PM


2024 IHSA GIRLS SOCCER STATE FINAL TIME SCHEDULE
Thursday - Session 1
1A Semifinal #1 - 5:30 pm
1A Semifinal #2 - 7:00 pm

Friday - Session 2
1A Third-Place – 10:30 AM
2A Semifinal #1 - Noon
2A Semifinal #2 - 1:30 PM

Friday - Session 3
3A Semifinal #1 - 5:00 PM
3A Semifinal #2 - 6:30 PM

Saturday – Session 4
2A Third-Place – 10:00 AM
3A Third-Place – 11:15 AM

Saturday – Session 5
1A State Championship - 3:00 PM
2A State Championship - 5:00 PM
3A State Championship - 7:00 PM

2. The Board approved a recommendation to update IHSA Policy 34 – Policy and School Recommendations For Transgender Participation. The updates to the Policy center around the participation of transgender students in gender specific State Series athletic events and activities consistent with their gender identity. The revised Policy can be read by clicking here.

IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson:
“With the support and guidance of experts from Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, the IHSA developed and enacted a Transgender Policy in 2011 that we believe is one of the most inclusive in the nation. The IHSA Policy has been adapted multiple times through the years as new guidance and best practices related to medical care and athletic participation in the transgender community have emerged. Today’s updates help to bring IHSA Policy 34 in closer alignment with the policy proposed by the United States Department of Education in April, 2023. This is a sensitive subject that creates a wide range of opinions and emotions. That was reflective in the extensive discussions the Board held on a variety of issues related to the topic. We believe the policy updates balance the interests of all involved in a manner which best serves all of our student-athletes and activity participants.”


APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Marquette Catholic High School in Alton. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and its sub-sections.

2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and its sub-sections.

3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Central Catholic High School in Aurora. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.042 and its sub-sections.

4. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from DeKalb High School. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.030 and its sub-sections.

5. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Oswego High School in Chicago. The student was denied a waver to IHSA By-law 3.022.

6. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with By-law 3.030 and its sub-sections.

7. The Board overturned the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Cornerstone Christian Academy in Bloomington based on new information provided by the school. The student is eligible immediately after initially being ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and its sub-sections.


DISCUSSION ITEMS
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, there are certain items the Board discusses, but upon which no action is taken. The following is a report of those items from the September 11, 2023, agenda:

1. The Board heard a report on the schools who have elected to play up in classification in the State Series in 2023-24 and 2024-25:

2. The Board heard a report on nominations for the IHSA Board of Directors and Legislative Commission seats. The deadline for nominations is September 15, 2023.

3. The Board heard a report on the by-law proposals that have been submitted so far for the upcoming IHSA Legislative Process that will occur in November and December. The deadline for submitting by-law proposals is October 10, 2023.

4. The Board heard a report that the IHSA staff will have a presence at the upcoming Illinois Association of School Administrators Conference on September 28, 2023 and the Illinois Principals Association Conference on October 15-17.

5. The Board heard a report on the NFHS Section IV and V Meeting, which was held August 29-September 1 in Iowa City, Iowa.

6. The Board heard a report that the IHSA staff will take the steps internally to form an IHSA Advisory Committee for Girls Flag Football.

7. The Board heard a report on the Pork & Pigskins State Championship. The deadline for a school to enter is September 13.

8. The Board discussed the IHSA Boys & Girls Basketball State Final time schedule.

9. The Board recognized outgoing IHSA Board member Amy McMahan, the principal at PORTA High School in Petersburg. McMahan will not run for a third term after she was elected to represent IHSA Board Division 6 in 2017 and won reelection in 2020.