Published on February 12, 2026 6:23 am
Last Updated on February 12, 2026 6:23 am
The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Board of Directors met for its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, where the Board took action on three state final hosting contracts:
Class 1A/2A Baseball at the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana
Illinois Field stepped up to host the 2025 IHSA Class 1A/2A Baseball State Finals, the first time the event was ever held there, following a scheduling conflict a year ago, and is now slated to host the event again in 2026 and beyond. Illinois Field, one of the top collegiate facilities in the Midwest, was constructed in 1988 and installed lights a decade later in 1999. The home of the Fighting Illini, which seats over 5,000, added a new video scoreboard in 2015 and a FieldTurf surface in 2020.
“We are proud to host the IHSA Class 1A/2A Boys Baseball State Tournament at Illinois Field through 2030,” said Jayne DeLuce, President & CEO of Experience Champaign-Urbana. “After welcoming the tournament in 2025, it was clear that this championship belongs here at the University of Illinois. With 31 Big Ten titles, Illinois Field is home to a remarkable legacy of Fighting Illini baseball. Now, high school athletes will have the opportunity to compete on that same iconic field—creating unforgettable moments of their own. We look forward to welcoming the teams, their families, and fans, and delivering a brilliant experience both on and off the field.”
Boys & Girls Water Polo Barrington High School
Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire had hosted the IHSA Boys & Girls Water Polo State Finals ever year since the sport began in the spring of 2002. The school now passes the state water polo hosting baton to Barrington High School, who is slated to host for three years, beginning in the spring of 2026.
“Barrington High School is excited to partner with the IHSA to host the Boys and Girls Water Polo State Finals,” said Barrington Principal Steve McWilliams. “We are always proud to showcase Barrington High School and our Natatorium, but are especially excited to showcase our facilities during the State Finals.”
The Barrington Natatorium seats around 1,000 fans and features a recently upgraded video board.
“We are looking forward to providing a memorable and fun experience for the athletes, coaches, and school communities attending,” added Barrington Athletic Director Ryan Rubenstein.
Speech at the Peoria Civic Center
The Board approved a two-year contract extension for the IHSA Speech State Finals to remain at the Peoria Civic Center in 2027 and 2028. The Civic Center has hosted the event since 2010. With its expansive meeting spaces, the Civic Center comfortably allows hundreds of students from around the state to compete in the State Final events, before coming together for the culminating awards ceremony in the venue’s grand 12,000 square foot ballroom.
“Moments like this further emphasize the great partnership between the Peoria area and the Illinois High School Association and that central Illinois continues to be the leader in sports championships across Illinois,” stated J.D. Dalfonso, CEO of Discover Peoria. “I want to thank the Board of Directors at IHSA, Craig Anderson, his entire team, the Peoria Civic Center and our hospitality community for being able to secure this event for the years to come.”
STRATEGIC PLANNING
1. The Board approved four action items based on recommendations from the IHSA’s Strategic Planning Committee. The Strategic Planning Committee included the IHSA Board of Directors, IHSA staff, and a group of Superintendents, Principals, Athletic Directors, Activity Directors, and coaches from around the state. The group met on January 14 and 15 at the IHSA office in Bloomington, with Meridian CUSD 223 Superintendent Dr. PJ Caposey serving as the leader of the sessions.
The strategic planning action items included:
A) Updates to the IHSA Mission, Vision, & Core Values:
Mission: Serve member schools by enriching students’ educational experiences through leadership of interscholastic athletics and activities.
Vision: Create unforgettable moments.
Core Values:
Integrity
Health & well-being
Sportsmanship
Access & Equity
B) In response to concerns expressed by member high school administrators in the data collection that occurred to help shape the strategic planning, the Strategic Planning Committee recommended the formation of a special committee to review competitive equity. The committee will meet monthly beginning in February with the goal of drafting Policy changes for the Board to review, and/or a by-law proposal or proposals for consideration by the membership by October, 2026.
C) The Strategic Planning Committee directed the IHSA Executive Director to work with the Association’s legal counsel to draft a by-law proposal that will allow the Executive Director and Board of Directors to have more oversight of the implementation procedures when a by-law change has safety, legal, or financial implications.
D) The Strategic Planning Committee directed the IHSA staff to continue its efforts to improve communication and education of member school administrators and coaches on important initiatives like rules and sportsmanship, while also seeking to protect the IHSA’s long-term financial health in order to be able to support new sports and activities as they emerge.
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson:
“We are grateful to all the stakeholders who invested their time and perspective into the IHSA’s strategic planning process. The work began by reaffirming who we are and why we exist — to serve our member schools and enrich the educational experience of students across Illinois. Our vision of ‘Creating unforgettable moments’ is more than a phrase; it’s a commitment that will guide our decision-making. At the same time, our membership made it clear that competitive equity, thoughtful governance, clear communication, and long-term financial sustainability must remain priorities. The IHSA has been a leader in education-based athletics and activities for more than a century, and this plan gives us a unified roadmap to meet today’s challenges while positioning us for the future.”
ACTION ITEMS
1. The Board approved a recommendation to add a Super-Sectional round to the Boys Water Polo and Girls Water Polo State Series schedules and update the Boys & Girls Water Polo State Final schedule to reflect eight total qualifying teams.
2. The Board approved a recommendation to suspend the following schools from IHSA membership due to noncompliance with IHSA By-law 2.130 (failure to attend a Town Hall Meeting/Principals’ Rules Meeting for two consecutive years). The suspended schools include: Beardstown (B. Christian Academy); Chicago (ASPIRA-Early College); Chicago (EPIC Academy Charter); Chicago (High School for the Arts); and Chicago (Noble/Baker).
3. The Board approved a recommendation to set its meeting schedule for the 2026-27 school year on the following dates:
-Monday, August 24, 2026
-Monday, September 14, 2026
-Wednesday, October 14, 2026
-Monday, December 7, 2026
-Wednesday, January 13, 2027
-Monday, February 8, 2027
-Saturday, March 13, 2027 in Champaign
-Monday, April 12, 2027
-Monday, June 14, 2027
ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Minutes from all Advisory Committees can be viewed by clicking here.
1. The Board approved the consent items from the Advisory Committees in the following sports & activities: Boys & Girls Golf, Boys & Girls Tennis, Boys & Girls Volleyball, Girls Flag Football, Sports Medicine, and Student Advisory.
Consent items are recommendations that received approval from the sport/activity advisory committee, the Athletic Administrators Advisory Committee and the IHSA staff. Consent items can be viewed by clicking here.
Non-consent items are recommendations from sport or activity committees that did not receive a majority vote from the Athletic Advisory Committee or IHSA staff.
Four non-consent items were approved:
Boys Volleyball
1. Boys Volleyball will run a one-season pilot in the spring of 2026 where they will use the MaxPreps RPI formula to seed the State Series as opposed to coach seeding. The IHSA will gather data and feedback on the pilot program to share with other sports.
Tackle Football
1. IHSA Board Policy 13: Weekly Player Limits is updated to include the position of long snapper to the positions that are able to play in two games on the same day or two games on consecutive days with no quarter restrictions.
Girls Flag Football
1. Part 1 of the recommendation below related to weather was approved, Part 2 was not approved:
D) Weather
1) During regionals and sectionals, if the game cannot be continued due to darkness, weather, etc., the game shall be considered suspended and must be continued from the point of interruption at the next available playing time. The next available playing time will be determined by the host site. Once the game has begun, the game officials are solely responsible for the decision to suspend the game. In games where the mercy rule has been activated, the game would be considered complete at the point of interruption. If a team chooses to not return to complete the contest, that team will forfeit the game.
Sports Medicine
1. IHSA Board Policy 37: Managing Heat and Heat Illness updated to include the language:
These requirements represent the minimum safety standards that the IHSA member schools must follow for all athletic and activity events, included but not limited to, practices, summer contact days, and competitions, both outdoors and indoor facilities that are not air-conditioned.
Consent items of note included:
Girls Flag Football
1. Date changes to Regional and Sectional contests.
APPEALS & ELIGIBILITY RULINGS
The appeals were held with the IHSA Hearing Board, a subset of the IHSA Board of Directors, virtually on February 2, 2026:
1. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from IC Catholic in Elmhurst. The student was ruled ineligible for non-compliance with IHSA By-law 3.040.
2. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Carmel Catholic in Mundelein. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and was seeking full eligibility.
3. The Board sustained the Executive Director’s ruling on a student from Marquette Academy in Ottawa. The student was granted limited eligibility in accordance with the provisions of IHSA By-law 3.043.3 and was seeking full eligibility.
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 February 10, 2026, agenda:
1. The Board discussed the current by-law amendment proposal voting that is ongoing by IHSA member schools through February 12. If the current proposal passes, it would change the start of the 2026 football season from August 10 to August 5. The Board discussed contingency plans based if the proposal passes or fails.
2. The Board reviewed bid proposals to host the IHSA Boys Soccer State Finals, but took no action. The Board has asked the IHSA staff to gather further information from some bid sites, but will also reopen the bidding process in the meantime.
3. The Board discussed questions that have been received regarding the installation of shot clocks and asked that the IHSA Basketball Advisory Committee provide feedback.
4. The Board discussed travel concerns for Girls Wrestling Regionals and ways to reduce travel in the future.
5. The Board reviewed a non-consent item in tackle football calling for the use of replay review at the IHSA Football State Finals. The Board has asked the IHSA staff to bring forward a detailed proposal of the plays that would reviewable and the protocol for review to be discussed at a future board meeting.
6. The Board recognized IHSA Assistant Executive Director, Susie Knobluach, who will be awarded the Career Achievement Recognition award by the Illinois Directors of Student Activities (IDSA) during their conference on February 24.