Changes in store for 2021 high school football season

Changes are in store for regular and postseason football as a result of action taken by the Iowa High School Athletic Association’s board of control on Jan. 21.

The board approved adding one classification of football for the 2021 season, which had been recommended by a joint classification meeting with the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union.

Class 5A will be added to 11-player football to reduce the disparity in enrollment in the largest class, and to increase the number of participating teams and student-athletes in the postseason.

Also approved were separate scheduling and playoff plans across the seven football classifications.

• Classes 5A, 4A, 3A: 36 teams, nine regular season games, 16 playoff qualifiers.

• Classes 2A, 1A: 48 teams, eight regular season games, 32 playoff qualifiers.

• Class A: Remainder of 11-player teams, eight regular season games, 32 playoff qualifiers.

• 8-Player: All 8-player teams, eight regular season games, 32 playoff qualifiers.

Teams in classes 2A, 1A, A and 8-player will be permitted to play a ninth regular season game if they do not qualify for the postseason.

The IHSAA will release information regarding playoff qualification and district assignments at a later date.

• State wrestling attendance

The board of control of the IHSAA also announced that this year’s state wrestling championships will be conducted as scheduled at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

The state dual team tournament will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 17, with the state traditional tournament following Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 18-20. Both will run in their usual sessions and formats; however, revised participant procedures and attendance restrictions will be in place due to the coronavirus pandemic. The procedures will follow the most updated proclamations and guidance with state and local officials, and the Iowa Events Center.

Spectator numbers will be limited due to social distancing requirements and related safety precautions. Fans will be assigned to reserved seating blocks which will reduce attendance to less than 4,000 tickets per session. The state wrestling champions annually average more than 75,000 spectators for all sessions.