Proposals affecting playoff locations, student eligibility and practice schedules will come before the University Interscholastic League’s Legislative Council on Sunday, Oct. 18, and Monday, Oct. 19, in Austin.
The agenda includes changes that could affect programs at Prosper, Rock Hill, Walnut Grove and Celina high schools. None has been approved.
The council’s 86th annual meeting takes place at the Westin Austin at the Domain. A public forum begins at 8 a.m. Sunday, followed by standing committee meetings. The full council reconvenes at 9 a.m. Monday to consider committee recommendations and vote on proposals, according to a UIL announcement.
Sunday’s public forum and Monday’s general session will be available through the UIL’s livestream page.
First-round playoff sites
A staff proposal would give higher-finishing district teams the choice of hosting first-round playoff games in basketball, soccer, team tennis and girls volleyball across all classifications.
The teams could also mutually agree to a neutral site. Opponents with the same district finish would use a coin toss or agree on a neutral location, according to the proposed amendment.
The proposal would extend the same preference to football in Conference 4A and below. Conference 5A and 6A football already have that rule, so it would not newly grant home-field preference to the four local football programs.
If approved by the council and the Texas Commissioner of Education, the amendment would take effect Aug. 1, 2027.
Prosper, Rock Hill and Walnut Grove compete in District 6-6A. Celina moved into Conference 5A Division II, District 4for the current realignment cycle.
Practice schedules and other athletics proposals
The Standing Committee on Athletics, chaired by Aledo ISD Superintendent Susan Bohn, will review the playoff-site proposal and several submissions from the public.
Those include proposals to change football, basketball and volleyball season dates, allow boys to play volleyball, restrict team-sport tournaments and provide additional weekly skills sessions for schools using traditional class schedules, according to the athletics agenda.
Instant replay is also listed for discussion. The committee agenda describes an all-sports proposal, while the separate public-submission summary specifically identifies basketball replay.
The committee will hear reports on a basketball shot clock and girls flag football. Those reports are listed separately from proposed rule changes.
Eligibility and virtual instruction
The Standing Committee on Policy, chaired by Robert Lee ISD Superintendent Aaron Hood, will consider staff proposals addressing virtual and hybrid instruction.
The proposals would clarify how students attending virtual campuses are counted, outline participation rules for junior high students in virtual or hybrid programs, and allow students attending schools outside their attendance zones to transition gradually into virtual or hybrid instruction, according to the policy agenda.
Another staff proposal would update guidance used to determine a student’s residence for eligibility purposes.
A public submission would amend the rule allowing children of aides to become automatically eligible for varsity athletics. The committee will also hear reports on dance as a UIL-sanctioned activity and the girls flag football pilot.
Public access and approval process
The 35-member council includes school administrators representing UIL conferences and regions, at-large members and charter school representatives. McKinney ISD Superintendent Shawn Pratt serves as an at-large member. Council Chair Richard Kilgore, superintendent of Bruceville-Eddy ISD, will preside over Monday’s session.
Public submissions are not necessarily endorsed by UIL. Committee consideration also does not guarantee a proposal will advance.
Amendments passed by the council require approval from the Texas Commissioner of Education before taking effect.
The meetings are open to the public, except for authorized executive sessions. Anyone needing accommodations should contact UIL at least two working days before the meeting at 512-471-5883 or [email protected].
