The Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) is the regulating body for male Iowa high school interscholastic athletics and is a full member of the National Federation of State High School Associations. Its female counterpart, the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union, (IGHSAU) is an associate member. Iowa is the only state that maintains separate governing bodies for boys' and girls' athletics.
Sports overseen by the IHSAA are baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and wrestling.
As classifications vary highly across sports, they are included under the individual sport section.
Administrative staff
The administrative staff that runs the IHSAA consists of the 7 members in the office of directors, and the 10 members of the board of control.
Board of directors
Executive Director- Tom Keating
Assistant Director- Brett Nanninga
Assistant Director- Todd Tharp
Assistant Director- Jared Chizek
Assistant Director Chad Elsberry
Director of Officials- Lewis Curtis
Communications Director- Chris Cuellar
Board of control
Chairperson: Greg Darling, Humboldt, 2021
Vice-chairperson: Dr. Rod Earleywine, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, 2020
Treasurer: Barb Schwamman, Osage, 2010
Greg Dockum, Johnston, IASB, 2021
Brent Cook, Dubuque, Senior, 2022
Paula Wright, Oskaloosa, 2019
Scott Kibby, Iowa City, Liberty, 2023
Dave Wiebers, Denison-Schleswig, 2023
Dr. Ryan Wise, ex-officio, Department of Education
Baseball
The IHSAA, historically, has had 3 state baseball championships. Currently, there is only one: the Summer State Championship, whose winners are currently recognized as the State Champions. Historically, however, the winners of all 3 tournaments are given credit for State Championships. Iowa was the first State Association in the nation to hold a baseball championship meet in the summer.
Classification guidelines
4A- Largest 48 schools
3A- Next 64 largest schools
2A- Next 96 largest schools
1A- Remaining (138) schools
State Champions
Summer Tournament
The summer tournament was first held in 1946, with one classification from 1946 to 1972. From 1973 to 1980, there were 2 classifications (1A and 2A), and since 1981 there have been 4 classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A).
Spring Tournament
The Spring Tournament was held every summer from 1928 to 1972, and is the oldest of the 3 state tournaments. In the 4 years prior to 1928 (1924–1927), Iowa State College hosted an "invitational state tournament" in the spring that attracted nearly 40 schools, but was unofficial in nature. Unlike the Summer tournament, the Spring tournament never divided into separate classes.
Fall Tournament
The Fall Tournament was held every summer from 1939 to 1985. Unlike the Summer tournament, the Fall tournament never divided into separate classes. .
Basketball
Classification guidelines
4A- Largest 48 schools
3A- Next 64 largest schools
2A- Next 96 largest schools*
1A- Remaining (155) schools
*IHSAA Board policy allows schools to participate in a higher classification than their enrollment places them in a sport with four classes. Schools requesting this placement will remain in higher class for two years. As a result, In the 2014-15 school year, there were 97 schools in 2A basketball, even though regulations call for 96