CHICAGO (AP) — The nation’s first high school sports governing body to face a class-action concussions lawsuit wants an Illinois judge to dismiss the suit, saying it could kill football programs statewide.

The Illinois High School Association says in a filing with Cook County Circuit Court that it’s already doing what it can to improve head-injury management. It says the lawsuit “threatens high school football.”

The filing is a first full response to the November lawsuit that seeks court supervision over how high schools manage head injuries. The IHSA filed the response late Friday and provided a copy to The Associated Press.

The plaintiff’s attorney has said improving safety should help football survive, not lead to its demise. The IHSA says mandates that the lawsuit seeks would be financially crippling.