Following a special vote by member schools, the Illinois High School Association has approved changes impacting the start of the 2026 high school football season.

The IHSA announced February 13 that schools voted 290 to 245, with 67 abstentions, to approve a special by-law proposal addressing both the first practice date and the number of required practices before the first game. About 75 percent of IHSA member schools participated in the vote, which concluded at midnight February 12.

As a result, the first official practice date for the 2026 football season will move up to Wednesday, August 5. In addition, players will now be required to complete 12 days of on-field practice, excluding Sundays, before they are eligible to compete in their first contest. Each practice must include at least one-and-a-half hours of on-field activity per player.

The vote follows a December decision by IHSA schools to expand the football playoffs by one week, a move that had reduced the required number of preseason practices to nine. After further discussions with sports medicine experts and safety advisors, the IHSA Board of Directors initiated the special vote to revisit those requirements.

IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said the decision prioritizes player safety while providing clarity for schools preparing for the season.

Anderson added that the association is open to future schedule changes for 2027, but with the 2026 season less than six months away, officials believe the approved changes strike the right balance between safety and preparation.