IFCA sends 6-2 realignment proposal to IHSAA


SCC’s Blake McAlister (center) warms up alongside his teammates before facing Dike-New Hartford in the Class 1A postseason on Oct. 23 at Titan Field in Lake City. The IFCA proposed an eight-classification format to the IHSAA on Dec. 15. [Tyler Anderson/The Graphic-Advocate]
By: 
Tyler Anderson
The Graphic-Advocate Editor

The high school football landscape within the state of Iowa may be in for a large change.

In a Dec. 15 news release, the Iowa Football Coaches Association proposed changes in classification to the Iowa High School Athletic Association. These changes come from a list of possible options received from the IHSAA last spring.

The current proposal from the IFCA sent out to Boone is a 6-2 model, which will result in the following classes: Class 5A, Class 4A, Class 3A, Class 2A, Class 1A, Class A and two separate classes of eight-player football.

It would mark a seismic shift within Iowa high school football, but the proposal is only in the preliminary stages. For the changes to happen, the IHSAA’s Board of Control would have approve and implement the modifications.

South Central Calhoun head football coach Bryan Case, who is part of the IFCA’s playoff committee, is on the fence when it comes to the broad strokes brought forth from the football coaches.

“I'm not sure what to think about the proposal,” Case said. “I'm on the committee that made the proposal, but I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to the overall views within the football playing schools.” 

According to Case, 92 percent of the football playing schools is in favor of the expansion. However, the veteran head coach provided a different perspective to the proposal.

“I've never been in favor of expanding the playoffs and rewarding more teams opportunities for mediocrity,” Case said. “But, I can absolutely see the disparity in numbers when it comes to classification, and expanding them, especially at the Class 4A and Class 5A level.”

The current Class 4A structure – consisting of just 40 schools – shows the most disparity, as schools based in the Des Moines suburbs have reigned supreme as urban Des Moines schools and throughout the state have collectively fallen behind.

Since 2000, 17 Class 4A state titles have went to West Des Moines Dowling Catholic (10), West Des Moines Valley (5) and Ankeny (2).

Another issue over the past several years has been the exponential growth of 8-Player, where 80 schools are projected to participate in the classification in 2021.

Case remarks that the playoffs should be a reward for a great season with a streamlined path to the UNI-Dome. With the loss of possible games on the regular season schedule, schools could lose out on revenue traditionally generated from a nine-game format.

“Currently, the IHSAA says that state football starts with the round of 16,” said Case. “Hence the reason for banners and awards at that level. If we expand to 32 qualifiers and only eight games, schools will lose out on some gate money and there will be even more separation from STATE when it comes to comparison with other sports.”

Should the Board of Control pass the measure, the largest question posed is the number of teams going to the playoffs, followed by another district realignment.

For now, coach Case – along with many other coaches who pace the sidelines on a Friday night – will have to wait and see what the IHSAA’s next move will be.

“All other sports begin their state competitions with the quarterfinals or the round of eight,” Case said. “I'm not sure what the answer is, but we will have to go with whatever the IHSAA says we have to do.”

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