The move away from football conferences to 18 statewide districts is designed to improve scheduling, starting in 2015. How it will work:

• A school's regular-season schedule will be made at the district level, with most games being intradistrict.

• Districts could form sub-districts of schools, resulting in some teams playing each other more regularly.

• Crossover games with schools in other districts could be scheduled with approval by the Minnesota State High School League.

• The changes will not affect sectional playoffs.

• Work on the schedules begins now. The league is encouraging districts to establish 2015 and 2016 schedules by Nov. 1.