The Iowa High School Athletic Association's board of control voted Monday to reduce the number of playoff qualifiers from 32 to 16 in six classes, citing player safety in the postseason system that has seen athletes take part in up to five games in a four-week window.
The decision could cost the association $250,000 to $300,000 a year, according to Alan Beste, the association's executive director.
It's the first reduction in the number of Iowa playoff qualifiers since the postseason began for the sport in 1972.
"We felt, and have felt for a while, our playoff schedule wasn't in the best interest of the players," Beste said. "The driving factor was player safety."
Football is the most popular Iowa high school sport. More than 20,000 athletes participate, a number more than 50 percent higher than any other boys' activity. It's also the biggest revenue generator. Football brought in more than $1 million in profits to the association in the 2012 and 2013 fiscal years, according to annual financial reports.
The number of playoff qualifiers increased from 16 to 32 in 2008. The decision stirred controversy every fall as sure as lights were turned on at stadiums for Iowa's current 340 programs. Some rejoiced for teams usually left at home to put hardware in the trophy case. Others grumbled about 2-7 qualifiers watering down Iowa's postseason.
Last fall, 192 squads reached the playoffs by finishing among the top four in their respective districts. In 2016, it will be 96.
Each year, Iowa's playoffs deliver physical poundings to football players with a short amount of recovery time.
If your team qualifies on Friday of Week 9 of the season, your first-round playoff game is five days away. Win that game, and you have five more days until the next kickoff.
"It's hard," said Waukee quarterback Ben Ferkin said. "We come back Saturday morning to see the trainer and get started for the playoffs."
The new format will give players a full week between the regular season and the first round of the playoffs. First-round and quarterfinal playoff games will be played on consecutive Fridays. This schedule allows athletes more time to rest and recover from bumps and bruises.
Amid a rising tide of concerns about player safety, the association had three potential choices for change, Beste said:
-- Start the season a week earlier to spread out the playoffs. Season openers would be held before school starts and practice would conflict with the state-mandated school start date of Aug. 23.
-- Adapt to an eight-game regular season. That would mean a loss of a game and revenue for all schools.
-- Cut the number of qualifiers, which would be a financial blow for the state association.
The decision was influenced by football playoff guidelines issued by the National Federation of State High School Association, which conducted a summit on the sport several years ago.
The board of control, which voted unanimously, sought out views from the Iowa Football Coaches Association and the state's Representative Council before voting.
"I know not everyone's going to love everything about this decision," said Scott Heitland, the coach at Dallas Center-Grimes and president of the coaches' association. "No matter what we do, something's going to be a consequence for this."
The coaches supported a reduction in the playoffs rather than the regular season, he said. Football provides financial lifeblood for other extracurricular activities at many schools, and a loss of a game means a loss of revenue.
"We worked as hard as we could to preserve the nine-game schedule," Heitland said. "At the end of the day, we kept in mind that people don't go out to practice football, they go out to play football."
Teams will have to contend for fewer playoff spots.
"I think there is definitely merit to it," Iowa City West High coach Garrett Hartwig said. "It creates value in the playoffs and makes the regular-season games that much more important. It's a good thing, I guess. There is certainly nothing wrong with more intensity and focus in the regular season. It's one of those things where that is the way it is, and you have to adjust."
Some of those qualifiers since 2008 saw their programs invigorated by a postseason trip. In 2013, Des Moines Hoover qualified for the first time since 1994.
"It takes out the underdogs," Waukee's Ferkin said. "It was a big deal to them. It kind of takes that away."
In 2013, 37 teams with losing records qualified, including two that were 2-7 in the regular season. With the new system, some 7-2 and 8-1 teams may not make the cut.
The elimination of half the field means qualifiers will play a maximum of four playoff games, rather than five. The athletes can use the added recovery time for players with minor injuries.
"If you had an extra day or two, they could get better or play at a higher level," Waukee coach Scott Carlson said.
The IHSAA has placed added emphasis on safety in the last few years, eliminating two-a-days and setting contact rules for practice.
The decision will be a financial hit to the association, Beste said.
Football income for the organization was more than $1.7<TH>million in 2013. Its profits were $1,052,617. The next-most profitable sport was basketball, at $800,000.
Moving first-round playoffs games from Wednesday to Friday will hopefully increase attendance, Beste said.
"We're not going to cut programs," Beste said. "We're just looking at making more fiscally responsible decisions."
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