IHSSA 2026 EMERGENCY SUBSTITUTION POLICY
In District Contests, substitutions in the same category may be made for participants listed on the original eligibility entry list provided the substitute is eligible in every respect, and that the Contest Manager is notified in time to establish the substitution. The State Office must be notified of all substitutions. If a coach employs a substitute the day of the District Contest, the coach will dispatch a letter signed by their administrator to the State Office of the following Monday notifying of student’s substitution. If this is not done, the rating for that substitute will not be validated. The student who substituted at District Large Group or the original student entered may participate in the State contest or All State Festival. Substituting an eligible individual may be made between district and state contest and state and all-state when the original participant cannot perform for group categories. A student may not substitute at the State Individual level.”
In addition, all emergency substitutions are required to complete the ONLINE SUB FORM
In addition to the existing subbing policy, the following emergency sub policy will also be in effect:
This is for LARGE GROUP events only.
This does not pertain to SOLO MIME. For SOLO MIME, a traditional sub request must be made.
Due to immediate illness, immediate violation of a local school’s good conduct rule, or immediate ineligibility, an emergency sub may be put in place for a large group event. Travel/vacations/appointments/conflicts with the existing schedule/ACT do not constitute an emergency subbing situation. This policy should only be used in good faith if a student has an emergency illness or has an ineligibility situation.
The coach must call Stacy Hansen/IHSSA State Office and ask for permission for the emergency sub prior to performing.
The subbed student may hold a script.
The rating will not reflect the new student holding the script.
The new student could continue onto State and/or All-State (if selected) or the director could make the choice to go back to the original performer.
The new student may then be in 2 + 1 categories in Large Group. A student may only appear in one additional category as an emergency sub.
The traditional sub form will still stay in place.