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Here is a summary of the mechanic changes for 2026. The IHSAA Mechanics and Best Practices for a Crew of Five, 2026 Edition, is now posted on my.IHSAA. Access it at the Resources tab on your dashboard. ❖ Free Kicks Crew’s initial alignment on kickoffs changed significantly. Wings now start on the goal line pylons. They can then adjust but must always stay at least 5 yds. behind the deepest receiver, if they are not on the goal line. U moves up to R’s restraining line. Officials’ responsibilities and mechanics before and during the kick have changed correspondingly, the biggest change being the wing officials are now responsible for forward progress on the return all the way to K’s goal line. The new free kick mechanics appear in the Manual at pp. 68-70. The new alignment also applies to a free kick following a safety. ❖ Scoring Kicks The U moves back under an upright with the B, and rules on the kick. The wing officials hold their positions on the LOS, with associated responsibilities. R must now make sure his position is wide enough to encompass a view of both the snapper and the holder/kicker, as he is now responsible for all roughing fouls. The new scoring kick mechanics appear in the Manual at pp. 78-79. ❖ Umpire Positioning U’s initial positioning on scrimmage plays has changed slightly, in that U’s position is now on the side of the formation opposite R, and no wider than the outside shoulder of the guard. The Manual now makes explicit that, on pass protection, U is responsible for the block of the tackle on R’s side, while R is to look through the QB to the block of the far tackle. ❖ Wings’ responsibilities on pass plays Wing officials hold the LOS while watching the block of the tackle. Upon reading “pass,” they continue to hold until a receiver on their side gets 7-10 yds. deep. Then move downfield and find the ball. ❖ Wings to accompany teams to the field The wing officials notify the team on their respective sidelines when there are 4 minutes remaining on the game clock prior to kickoff and at the halftime intermission. The wings will accompany their respective teams out to the field.

Speedhawk says StinkCity's superior seniors steer squad statebound

Apparently you didn’t read my last post before commenting

School populations are declining but they’re still big enough where this shouldn’t be an issue. In my opinion, there are several issues causing roster decline: 1. Year-round travel sports. Kids are playing baseball and basketball throughout the summer and sometimes into the fall on travel teams. There’s either no availability for football or they’re just looking for a break. 2. Parents/kids are turned off by the violent nature of football with CTE getting a lot of attention over the last 10-15 years. It’s a risk some aren’t willing to take. 3. Kids don’t care about sports as much today as they did in previous generations. I may be completely wrong here but, based on what I’ve observed, it seems to me that there was a higher percentage of the male student population that participated in sports (including football) in previous generations than there are today. I think too many kids get distracted by video games, streaming, and other screens. They’d rather sit on their butts and get fat/unhealthy staring at screens all day rather than breaking a sweat. Football used to have this aura where you were somebody if you were on the football team. It was like a right of passage to manhood. Nowadays, I don’t think this is true aside from the schools that have a tradition of success.

30??? Sir I am not sure you have seen a 1a sideline, but 30 just is not gonna happen at A LOT of schools

Just throwing out a number. Most of the football teams I see in person are 4A or higher so I have no idea what’s normal for 1A. I just get frustrated hearing about some teams constantly struggling to field teams. Maybe moving to 8-man football would alleviate that a bit. If we get enough 8-man teams then maybe it can be taken more seriously and we can have an IHSAA-sanctioned tournament for it.

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/08/12/coaches-confidential-what-would-high-school-football-coaches-eliminate-parent-expectations-travel/91255894007/ Selected responses are below, read the article if you want the full list:

Interesting story about a lawsuit filed by the University of Indianapolis against Indiana University: https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2026/08/11/indiana-university-sued-for-using-iu-indy-by-university-of-indianapolis/91263395007/ I have a family member who is a UIndy grad. Go Greyhounds, beat IU!

The wrestlers have to be on the field. When they have been like 2008 & 2009 they are successful. Not blaming anyone for them not being on the field but definitely seems to be a correlation. Last year they had more but were young (Freshmen) in some skill spots. I won't say anything about the other factor that isn't wrestling related that I believe was an issue.

With a wrestling program such as theirs - no way they should have that long of a losing streak. Doesn't make any sense.....

No disrespect to INPREPS, whatever that is, but the ludicrous nature of these spelling errors perhaps suggests the use of AI?🤔

30? That would probably eliminate half of 1A.

Are the school populations declining? We aren’t having that problem down here. Floyd Central has more kids playing football than we’ve ever had. Especially in the youth system. I’ve heard New Albanys #s are way down. The new coach is recruiting the hallways pretty hard.

I feel like there needs to be a minimum roster limit in order to play 11-man football. I don’t know what that number would be. 30, maybe? But if you don’t have the minimum then you have to play 8-man football for that particular year.

I know enrollment is down a bit, but don’t know if it necessitates scrapping 11-man. Frontier, conversely, is smaller and they’re fielding a team.

Ditto. Absolutely not trying to “shoot the messenger.”

I’ve heard via the grapevine that Trinity Lutheran is switching to 8-man. They were supposed to have been in their second year of playing JV, prior to a V schedule next year. No clue how all that stands now. This is their third attempt at starting a football program.

@Coach Nowlin has incredible sluthing skills. Next time I will copy directly from the IFCA post as these spelling errors are most egregious.

Crazy to me how much numbers have fallen over the last 10 to 20 years. Every school in the conference had JV and freshman teams back then. I think only two had a freshman team last year.

don't know don't care I know where I got the polls sent from when they rolled out: I copy and posted here: Where that came from..... who know, need to ask @Titan32 where he pulled those screenshot from: My guess it was INPREPS based on my incredible context clues

Heard Jennings County was reaching out to schools on schedule about JV games later in the season. Was told the Coach told schools the plan was to play a full JV season but their numbers aren't very good and wanted to be up front. Know they still play East, Bedford and Seymour in HHC.

The fact that this is happening with that low of numbers at SN is absolutely killing me inside....

If Taxpayers Fund Your Stadium, You Better Get It Right: https://reason.com/2026/08/11/the-buffalo-bills-got-tons-of-taxpayer-money-for-a-stadium-with-a-lot-of-pretty-lame-problems/

https://ifca.net/# Check out info here on how it could look