Illinois High School Association (IHSA) member schools approved all nine amendment proposals that appeared on the all-school ballot during the annual by-law referendum process that ended on December 16, 2024. Full text of the initial 26 proposals can be found by clicking here.
Perhaps the most significant change of note will be a reduction in summer contact days from 25 to 20, a change that goes into effect in 30 days and will be applicable during the summer of 2025.
"The IHSA's Sports Medicine Advisory Committee has supported this change for several years," said IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson. "They believe our student-athletes need increased time for physical and mental recovery throughout the summer months, and anticipate this minor reduction will be a benefit to high school student-athletes, coaches, and families alike."
Nearly 70% of the IHSA membership took part in the 2024 voting process. Below is a summary of the proposals and the vote totals. (The numbers in parentheses indicate the total of Yes-No-No Opinion votes. For an amendment to pass, Yes votes must outnumber No votes).
Proposal 4 (Passes 454-78-26): Allows the IHSA Executive Director to appoint Associate Directors to make eligibility rulings. Also allows the IHSA Board of Directors to appoint a committee of three Board members to review eligibility appeals.
Proposal 6 (Passes 450-92-17): Adds penalties for officials working as unlicensed officials and for assignors (where used by member schools) when an unlicensed official is assigned to work a contest. No penalties to the school when using an assignor and for a first-time offense.
Proposal 7 (Passes 350-154-54): Modifies the IHSA travel policy. Currently, a team can miss two days of school on two occasions during a season. This change would allow for the four days to be used concurrently.
Proposal: 16 (Passes 489-34-37): Modifies the All-Star limitation by-law to be in place during the school year only.
Proposal 17 (Passes 317-227-17): Modifies the number of summer contact days restriction from 25 to 20 days.
Proposal 20 (Passes 459-82-20): Adds specific penalties for a school that violates the season limitation in any sport. Penalties include coaches being suspended for the entirety of the State Series. Forfeiture of host guarantee and probation.
Proposal 24 (Passes 289-122-142): Increase the number of regular season contests in competitive cheerleading and competitive dance from 6 to 8 dates.
Proposal 25 (Passes 385-116-59): Modifies the suspension for ejection of unsportsmanlike conduct by players in football to be ineligible for the remainder of the quarter they are ejected and the next four (4) quarters at that level and all other interscholastic contests at any level in the interim, in addition to
other penalties by IHSA or the school may assess.
Proposal 26 (Passes 498-36-27): Change most references in the constitution and by-laws of “principal” and “administrator,” to "Official Representative".