The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union (IGHSAU) is the governing body for girls' junior and senior high school sports in the U.S. state of Iowa. 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, is a full-time member of the National Federation of State High School Associations, 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, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, track and field, tennis, volleyball, and wrestling.[4]
Sports previously overseen by the IGHSAU were gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and indoor track and field.
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.
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.
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.
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
From 2007-2014, 2 Classes
From 2015–present, 3 classes:
Source:[6]From 1966–1977, one class:
From 1978–1980, two classes:
From 1981–2002, three classes:
From 2003–current, four classes:
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.[7][8]
*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
From 1998–2001, one class:
From 2002–2010, 2 classes:
From 2011–present, 3 classes:
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:
One class of swimming and diving.
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 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.[17]
From 2022–2024, one class
Three sports were previously overseen by the IGHSAU. These three sports were: gymnastics, synchronized swimming, and indoor track and field.
Gymnastics was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1968–1988.
From 1968–1988, one class:
Synchronized Swimming was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1970–1981.
From 1970–1981, one class:
Indoor Track & Field was an IGHSAU sponsored sport from 1965–1997.
From 1965–1997, one class: