Two of the bigger football proposals at the UIL’s June Legislative Council meeting did not move forward, keeping two long-running Texas high school football debates alive for another day.
The first proposal centered on football playoff seeding. Texas currently sends four teams from most districts into the playoffs, then splits them into Division I and Division II based on enrollment. Once that happens, the bracket is largely set by district finish.
The proposal would have opened the door for changes to how teams are seeded once they reach the postseason. The idea was simple enough: try to avoid elite teams from the same district or region running into each other too early.
That sounds good until Texas geography walks into the room wearing boots.
Re-seeding playoff teams could create major travel issues, site headaches, and planning problems for schools, bands, fans, and athletic departments. It also raises the bigger question: how much should district championships matter? In Texas, winning your district has always carried real weight. The UIL did not move the proposal forward.
The second proposal would have allowed high school football coaches to coach their own players during summer 7-on-7 tournaments.
That would have been a major offseason shift. Texas 7-on-7 is huge, especially for quarterbacks, receivers, and defensive backs. But under current rules, school coaches cannot coach, call plays, run drills, or instruct their own players in those summer passing leagues. Parents and volunteers usually handle the teams.
Supporters argue that trained coaches would make 7-on-7 more organized, safer, and better for player development. The concern on the other side is just as clear: if varsity coaches are allowed on the sidelines, voluntary summer football can start feeling a lot less voluntary.
The UIL has long tried to keep football from becoming a year-round school-controlled sport. Concerns about burnout, multi-sport athletes, and competitive balance were always going to make this a tough sell.
Neither proposal is necessarily gone forever. UIL ideas often return after more study, surveys, or revised language.
For now, Texas playoff seeding stays put, and summer 7-on-7 remains coach-free.
