Herrin’s Jaxon Hudson (3) scrambles while pressured by Carbondale’s J.J. Oliver (5) during the first quarter on Friday, Oct. 10, in Herrin.
*First published to IHSA.org
Following the conclusion of voting at midnight on February 12, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) announced on February 13 that member schools voted to approve a special by-law proposal impacting the start date of the 2026 football season and the number of practices required per player to compete in the first contest.
The proposal passed by a margin of 290 in favor, 245 opposed, and 67 with no opinion. Voting opened on January 29 and seventy-five percent (602) of the IHSA membership cast a ballot in the special election.
As a result of the vote, the first practice date of the 2026 IHSA football season will move forward to Wednesday, August 5, 2026. In addition, each player will be required to complete 12 days of on-field practices (excluding Sundays; 1 ½ hours per player per practice required) before they are eligible to compete in their first contest.
IHSA member schools voted in December to expand the IHSA Football Playoffs by one week, and as a result, it reduced the required number of practices prior to the first contest to nine practices. Following that vote, the IHSA conducted extensive discussions with the IHSA Sports Medicine Advisory Committee and other state and national leaders on player safety, which ultimately led the IHSA Board of Directors to initiate the process of a special vote to address both.
“Despite the cumbersome nature of the process, I am confident this outcome is in the best interest of student-athlete safety,” said Craig Anderson. “We recognize that our member schools may bring forward ideas to alter the 2027 football season schedule as a result, and we welcome that. However, given that we are less than six months from the season, we believe this is a positive result that provides scheduling clarity for teams, coaches, and student-athletes ahead of the 2026 season, while prioritizing safety.”
