The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) is the governing body for girls' junior and senior high school sports in the
U.S.
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous ...
state of
Iowa
Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...
. The association promotes and regulates interscholastic sports among its member schools. Though its counterpart for boys sports in Iowa, the
Iowa High School Athletic Association
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 Gir ...
, is a full-time member of the
National Federation of State High School Associations
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) is the body that writes the rules of competition for most high school sports and activities in the United States. NFHS's headquarters are located in White River State Park in Indi ...
, the IGHSAU is only an affiliate member. It is headquartered at 5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 150, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.
Sports currently overseen by the IGHSAU are
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
,
bowling
Bowling is a Throwing sports#Target sports, target sport and recreational activity in which a player rolls a bowling ball, ball toward Bowling pin, pins (in pin bowling) or another target (in target bowling). Most references to ''bowling'' are ...
,
cross country,
golf
Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...
,
soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...
,
softball
Softball is a Variations of baseball, variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) ...
,
swimming
Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, such as saltwater or freshwater environments, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Swimmers achieve locomotion by coordinating limb and body movements to achieve hydrody ...
&
diving
Diving most often refers to:
* Diving (sport), the sport of jumping into deep water
* Underwater diving, human activity underwater for recreational or occupational purposes
Diving or Dive may also refer to:
Sports
* Dive (American football), ...
,
track and field
Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a ru ...
,
tennis
Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...
,
volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...
, and
wrestling
Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...
.
Sports previously overseen by the IGHSAU were
gymnastics
Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises requiring Balance (ability), balance, Strength training, strength, Flexibility (anatomy), flexibility, agility, Motor coordination, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movem ...
,
synchronized swimming
Synchronized swimming (in British English, synchronised swimming), also known as artistic swimming, is a sport where swimmers perform a synchronized choreographed routine, accompanied by music. The sport is governed internationally by World A ...
, and
indoor track and field
Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a ru ...
.
Administrative staff
Representation of the IGHSAU consists of an eight-person Board of Directors. Six positions are elected to the IGHSAU Board while two appointees representing the Iowa Association of School Boards and the Iowa Department of Education also serve. The Board of Directors approve policy changes proposed by the IGHSAU administrative staff.
The IGHSAU Representative Council meets twice a year.
IGHSAU Sport Advisory Committees
Each IGHSAU sport has an advisory committee made up of coaches, an official and an athletic director. These committees meet once a year to review their respective sports and develop recommendations for the IGHSAU administrative team to take to the IGHSAU Board of Directors.
IGHSAU Student Athlete Advisory Committee
The IGHSAU Student Athlete Advisory Committee is composed of female student-athletes from each of the state's four districts (NE, SE, NW, SW) along with three at-large representatives. Eleven girls were selected to two-year terms to meet about issues related to girls high school activities in Iowa. Committee members act as a voice for Iowa's female student-athletes and serve as a sounding board for the IGHSAU's Representative Council and the Board of Directors.
IGHSAU Executive Directors
Basketball
Classification guidelines
*5A- Largest 40 schools by enrollment
*4A- Next Largest 48
*3A- Next Largest 64
*2A- Next Largest 80
*1A- Remaining schools
State Champions
From 1920 until 1984, there was one tournament for teams with 6 players.
From 1985-1993, there was a tournament for 5-player teams and one for 6-player teams.
From 1994-2012, there were 4 classes, all with 5 players
From 2013–present, there are 5 classes, all with 5 players
Bowling
Classification guidelines
*3A- Largest 30 schools by enrollment
*2A- Next Largest 30
*1A- Remaining schools
State Champions
From 2007-2014, 2 Classes
From 2015–present, 3 classes:
Cross Country
Classification guidelines
State Champions
Source:
From 1966–1977, one class:
From 1978–1980, two classes:
From 1981–2002, three classes:
From 2003–current, four classes:
Golf
The standard team scoring format for golf tournaments, per NFHS guidelines, is to add up the scores of 6 players with each player playing 2 rounds of 18 holes. Teams are then ranked according to lowest score.
Classification guidelines
*4A (fall golf) – Largest 48 schools*
*3A (spring golf) – Next 64
*2A (spring golf) – Next 96
*1A (spring golf) – Remainder (129)
*''Plus golf schools that play in 4A conferences that wish to play in the fall. In 2006–2007 there were 52 schools in class 4A''
State Champions
Soccer
Classification guidelines
*3A- Largest 40 schools by enrollment
*2A- Next Largest 48
*1A- Remaining schools
State Champions
From 1998–2001, one class:
From 2002–2010, 2 classes:
From 2011–present, 3 classes:
Softball
Classification guidelines
*5A- Largest 40 schools by enrollment
*4A- Next Largest 48
*3A- Next Largest 64
*2A- Next Largest 80
*1A- Remaining schools
State Champions
From 1957–1987, one class, summer and fall seasons:
From 1988–1993, one class:
From 1994–2003, 3 classes:
From 2004–2011, 4 classes:
From 2012–present, 5 classes:
Swimming & Diving
Classification guidelines
One class of swimming and diving.
State Champions
Tennis
Classification guidelines
*2A - Largest 48 schools by enrollment
*1A - Remaining schools
State Champions
Track and Field
Classification guidelines
*4A- Largest 48 schools by enrollment
*3A- Next Largest 64
*2A- Next Largest 96
*1A- Remaining schools
State Champions
From 1962 to 1976: one class
From 1977 to 2003: 3 classes
From 2004 to current: 4 classes
Para Class
Volleyball
Classification guidelines
*5A- Largest 40 schools by enrollment
*4A- Next Largest 48
*3A- Next Largest 64
*2A- Next Largest 80
*1A- Remaining schools
State Champions
From 1970–1973, one class, winter season play only:
From 1973–1980, one class:
From 1981–1993, 2 classes:
From 1994–2002, 3 classes:
From 2003–2011, 4 classes:
From 2012–present, 5 classes
Wrestling
Wrestling has been an IGHSAU sponsored sport since 2022. State championships are awarded to a single team and individuals at the individual state tournament. There is currently no team dual state championship.
On 23 May 2024, it was announced that due to the explosion of participation in the sport, wrestling would move to two classes for the 2024-2025 season. The largest 64 schools would compete in class 2A, and the remaining schools in 1A.
Weight Classifications
* 100 pounds
* 105 pounds
* 110 pounds
* 115 pounds
* 120 pounds
* 125 pounds
* 130 pounds
* 135 pounds
* 140 pounds
* 145 pounds
* 155 pounds
* 170 pounds
* 190 pounds
* 235 pounds
State Champions
From 2022–2024, one class
Defunct sports
Three sports were previously overseen by the IGHSAU. These three sports were:
gymnastics
Gymnastics is a group of sport that includes physical exercises requiring Balance (ability), balance, Strength training, strength, Flexibility (anatomy), flexibility, agility, Motor coordination, coordination, artistry and endurance. The movem ...
,
synchronized swimming
Synchronized swimming (in British English, synchronised swimming), also known as artistic swimming, is a sport where swimmers perform a synchronized choreographed routine, accompanied by music. The sport is governed internationally by World A ...
, and
indoor track and field
Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a ru ...
.
Gymnastics
Classification guidelines
Gymnastics was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1968–1988.
State Champions
From 1968–1988, one class:
Synchronized Swimming
Classification guidelines
Synchronized Swimming was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1970–1981.
State Champions
From 1970–1981, one class:
Indoor Track & Field
Classification guidelines
Indoor Track & Field was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1965–1997.
State Champions
From 1965–1997, one class:
References
External links
Official website
{{NFHS
High school sports associations in the United States
Sports organizations established in 1927
High school sports in Iowa
Women's sports in Iowa