(12-26-24) A look at the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) and Illinois High School Association (IHSA) recent financial reports.

Ohio vs. Illinois Facts

  • Illinois State Final Ticket Prices – Tickets $15 at Hancock Stadium or $17 digitally
  • Ohio State Playoff tickets – Regional Tickets: Adults $11 and students $5. State Semifinal Tickets: Adults $15 and students $10. State Championship Tickets: Tickets available online only for adults $15 and students $10.
  • Illinois has 8 football classes
  • Ohio has 7 football divisions
  • Illinois does not currently charge member schools any dues or fees to compete
  • Ohio charges fees for each sport a member school participates in

Ohio High School Athletic Association Financial Report from September 26th

ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION – Financial Statements, June 30, 2024 and 2023 (30 page pdf)

Twitter’s AI GROK prepared—

Compare Illinois high school association to Ohio high schools athletic association

The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) are both governing bodies for high school sports in their respective states, but they have some differences in structure, operations, and the sports they oversee:

Structure and Governance:

  • IHSA: Founded in 1900, the IHSA is one of the oldest state high school associations in the U.S. It is governed by a board of directors composed of high school principals, with seven elected from geographic regions and three elected at-large. The association also has a legislative commission that helps shape policy. It serves over 760 public and private high schools in Illinois.
  • OHSAA: Established in 1907, the OHSAA is similarly structured with a board of directors but has six districts, each with its own District Athletic Board. This association oversees approximately 820 member high schools and an additional 850 schools in the 7th-8th grade division. The OHSAA’s governance includes managing eligibility, dispute resolution, and organizing competitive levels.

Sports and Activities:

  • IHSA: The IHSA regulates 14 sports for boys, 15 for girls, and eight co-educational non-athletic activities. It has been at the center of controversies regarding inclusion policies, like the participation of private schools and gender equality in sports.
  • OHSAA: Similarly, the OHSAA conducts state championships in various sports, but specifics on the number of sports for each gender or co-ed activities are less detailed in the provided sources. However, it’s known for its broad range of athletic programs and championships.

Classification and Competition:

  • IHSA: Previously operated on a two-year classification cycle for sports like football, but recently switched to a one-year cycle due to public and member school feedback to better reflect current school sizes and competitive balance.
  • OHSAA: It also uses school enrollment to classify schools into divisions for competition but specifics on the frequency of these classifications aren’t explicitly mentioned in the sources provided. However, it’s clear that both associations focus on creating fair competition based on school size.

Public Perception and Recent Decisions:

  • IHSA: Has faced scrutiny and public discourse, particularly around decisions like shifting sports seasons due to health crises, which highlights its responsiveness to public and school feedback.
  • OHSAA: While specifics on public reactions aren’t provided, its longstanding tradition and structure suggest a similar focus on adapting to ensure student-athletes have competitive and educational experiences.

Cultural Impact and Outreach:

  • Both associations are pivotal in their states, not just for organizing sports but for promoting values like sportsmanship, academics, and citizenship. They engage with communities through events and maintain a presence in educational policy through partnerships with state educational bodies.

In summary, while both the IHSA and OHSAA share core functions in managing high school sports, differences lie in their historical development, governance specifics, classification methodologies, and how they’ve adapted to contemporary issues. Each has tailored its operations to fit the unique educational and cultural landscape of its state.