Soccer will become the fifth IHSAA sport to have four classifications as the Board of Control approved the addition of Class 4A ahead of the upcoming 2023 spring season.
The two-time recommendation from the soccer advisory committee passed to create classifications with fewer schools and closer enrollment totals for a sport that has shown consistent growth since becoming an IHSAA sanctioned sport in 1994-95.
In 2022, IHSAA soccer featured 172 participating teams across three classes: 48 in Class 3A, 56 in Class 2A, and 68 in Class 1A. The sport debuted in 1994-95 with 79 schools, added a second class in 1998, and added a third class in 2009 with 143 schools.
Soccer had featured over 6,000 boys’ participants for six consecutive springs prior to the pandemic-cancelled 2020 season. Other sports with four classifications include: baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, and track and field.
For 2023, IHSAA soccer will feature:
- Class 4A: Largest 36 schools
- Class 3A: Next 40 schools
- Class 2A: Next 48 schools
- Class 1A: Remaining schools
Postseason schedules and assignments were also recommended for an adjustment by the advisory committee, which will be installed alongside the new classification.
Similar to basketball in 2022-23, soccer will receive substate brackets closer to the postseason, currently planned for the week of May 8 (NFHS calendar Week 45). The substate assignments and pairings separately released in previous years will be bumped in favor a later bracket, which will allow more regular season contests to factor into postseason seedings and matchups.
2023 Postseason Schedule
- Monday, May 15: Class 2A and Class 1A, substate first round
- Tuesday, May 16: Class 4A and Class 3A, substate first round
- Monday, May 22: All classes, substate second round
- Wednesday, May 24: All classes, substate final
- Tuesday, May 30: All classes, quarterfinals
- Thursday, June 1: All classes, semifinals
- Saturday, June 3: All classes, finals
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