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109The list is divided into groups based on the following:• Three and four-class team sports (boys soccer, girls soccer, boys baseball, boys basketball, girls basketball, girls softball, girls volleyball): Fixed enrollment numbers for all the above sports would be created after dividing the four-class team sport with the fewest participating schools by placing the smallest 27.5% of entries in Class 1A, thenext smallest 27.5% of entries in Class 2A, the next smallest 22.5% of entries in Class 3A, and the remaining entries inClass 4A. This fixed enrollment number will be calculated prior to the start of each classification cycle.• Three-class team sports (non-bracketed) (competitive dance): The smallest 1/3 (33.33%) of entries in Class 1A, thenext smallest 1/3 (33.33%) in Class 2A, and the remaining 1/3 (33.33%) in Class 3A.• Three-class individual sports (boys cross country, girls cross country, boys golf, boys track and field, girls track and field, boys wrestling): The smallest 4/10 (40%) of entries in Class 1A, the next smallest 3/10 (30%) in Class 2A, andthe remaining 3/10 (30%) in Class 3A.• Two-class sports and activities (girls golf, scholastic bowl), girls tennis, boys tennis: The smallest 1/2 (50%) of entriesin Class A and the remaining 1/2 (50%) in Class AA.• Competitive cheerleading: Of schools that did not compete in the Coed Division, the smallest 1/3 (33.33%) in theSmall Division, the next smallest 1/3 (33.33%) in the Medium Division, and the remaining 1/3 (33.33%) in the LargeDivision.• Music: Of schools that entered either the Solo & Ensemble or Organization contest (or both), the smallest 1/5 (20%)of entries in Class D, the next smallest 1/5 (20%) in Class C, the next smallest 1/5 (20%) in Class B, the next smallest1/5 (20%) in Class A, and the remaining 1/5 (20%) in Class AA.• Boys football: Classifications for boys football are determined at the end of the regular season using the “classificationenrollment” in the manner prescribed by the Boys Football Terms & Conditions.The highest enrollment assigned to each class is considered the cutoff for that class. All entries with enrollments lower than the cutoff are assigned to that class.After the list is divided into groups, programs affected by the success adjustment and programs that have opted to “play up” are moved up into the proper class.The classification process does not guarantee that, by the time the tournaments are actually conducted, the classes will beexactly proportional. Between the time the cutoffs are determined and the beginning of the tournaments, some schools may add or drop the sport or activity, or form or dissolve coops.2) Cooperative TeamsIn determining the enrollment of a cooperative team, the classification enrollments of all involved schools are combined todetermine the classification enrollment of the coop.3) Success AdjustmentPrograms at non-boundary schools will be subject to the success adjustment if, over the course of a two-year classificationperiod, a program wins two (2) trophies at the state finals. In such a case, the program will be adjusted up one class from theclass in which the program won its trophies for the next two-year classification period.4) Playing UpA school may petition to play in a higher classification in a particular sport or activity. The request must be for a minimum oftwo years and must arrive at the IHSA Office no later than September 1.Classification Cutoffs for 2023-24 and 2024-25 are available at ihsa.org.18. GROUPING AND SEEDING STATE TOURNAMENT SERIESDeveloping a Rationale for Grouping and Seeding State Tournament SeriesThe cornerstone of IHSA state tournaments has long been geographic assignments to the state series leading to geographic representation at State Final tournaments. The geographical concept was developed to ensure that interscholastic participation was compatible with a school’s educational objectives. The geographic concept helped maintain a “reasonableness” to competition andsafeguarded key resources such as time and money, while, at the same time, providing for a structure that was equitable to all member schools. Since 1991, when sectional complexes were first adopted in Class AA basketball, IHSA administrators struggled with how togroup and seed the lower-level tournaments in other sports and activities. Without an official policy regarding seeding, the currentsystem has developed into a hodgepodge that lacks consistency and an overarching rationale.It is important to note that the interscholastic programs of a school are designed to enrich the educational process (* Note Article 1.140 of the Constitution). The establishment of sound standards and procedures for the regulation and control of interscholastic programs not only provide for fairness and equity, but they also keep the programs in an educational context. The geographic principle is essential to regulating the character of interscholastic competition. This document strips away the conflicting arguments and returns to the IHSA’sfundamental principles to establish a framework for organizing a state tournament series.